Whooping Cough Cases Surge Since 2023: Alarming CDC Data Reveals Shocking New Rise!

Whooping cough cases are continuing to rise in the United States, with new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that there are five times as many cases this year than at this point last year.

The data, updated Thursday, shows the case count at 18,506 as of the week ending Oct. 12. At the same time last year, 3,382 cases had been reported.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a common respiratory illness in the U.S. It may be difficult to identify because its symptoms are so similar to those of other respiratory bacteria and viruses, which often circulate at the same time as whooping cough.

The infection starts with symptoms like a runny nose, a low-grade fever and a tickly cough. A week or two later, it moves into a new stage, leading to a violent full-body cough.

These coughing fits can be so severe that they cause patients to vomit or break ribs, and they're often accompanied by a whooping sound as the person tries to catch their breath.