Whooping Cough Is Surging in the U.S.: What You Need to Know
In a year already marked by public health challenges, a sharp rise in whooping cough (pertussis) cases across the United States is sounding the alarm for infectious disease experts. With over 8,000 cases already reported in 2025, more than double this time last year, we are on track to see the highest number of infections since the vaccine was introduced in 1948.
In our piece for The New York Academy of Sciences, Dr. Boghuma Titanji* and I break down:
What whooping cough is and why it's so dangerous, especially for babies
The key drivers behind its resurgence: falling vaccination rates, misinformation, waning immunity, and pathogen evolution
Why timely vaccination is still our best defense
A practical breakdown of CDC’s current vaccination schedule for all age groups, including pregnancy and adult boosters
👉 Click here to read the full article.
*Boghuma K. Titanji, MD PhD is an Infectious Diseases Physician-Scientist and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine