Whooping cough wave is still accelerating nationwide. Here’s what to know about symptoms
This year’s resurgence of whooping cough cases has reached a critical level, marking the worst outbreak in almost a decade. On Thursday, September 19, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released alarming data showing a sharp rise in cases across the United States during the back-to-school season. With 291 new cases reported in the week ending on September 14, this surge has rapidly accelerated, causing concern among health officials.
New York leads the nation in new cases, with 44 infections this week alone. Other states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma, are also seeing large outbreaks, each reporting at least 38 cases. This surge represents the highest number of infections caused by Bordetella pertussis, the bacteria responsible for whooping cough, in a single week since 2015. That year, the country was also recovering from a resurgence of the disease, which had peaked the previous year.
Whooping cough, or pertussis, typically manifests about a week after a person is exposed to the bacteria. The disease is known for its severe coughing fits, often followed by the characteristic “whooping” sound as patients struggle to catch their breath. Infections can persist for weeks or even months, with severe cases leading to hospitalization.
The CDC has reported 14,569 cases of whooping cough so far this year, which is over four times the number reported at this time last year. This is even higher than the 10,000 cases reported by this point in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic led to a temporary decline in airborne infections like pertussis. Public health experts are now raising concerns about the growing number of breakthrough infections in older children and adults.
One of the key issues driving the increase in cases is the reduced effectiveness of the current pertussis vaccines. In the 1970s, the United States and other high-income countries switched to newer vaccines that caused fewer side effects. However, these vaccines have proven to be less effective in preventing the spread of the disease. This has resulted in a resurgence of whooping cough cases in recent years, particularly in areas with large populations of high school students.
In Pennsylvania, where one of the largest outbreaks is occurring, health officials have been issuing warnings to doctors about the likelihood of continued increases as schools reopen. Over the summer, outbreaks persisted even though many schools were closed. In New York, 40% of this year’s cases outside New York City have occurred in teens between 15 and 19 years old, according to state health department figures.
Oklahoma has seen one of the sharpest increases in whooping cough cases over recent weeks. The state’s health department reported that the median age of cases is 9 years old, but infections have also been observed in people as old as 86. With 162 cases reported in Oklahoma since January 2024, the state is experiencing its highest number of infections since 2017, when there were 207 cases.
Amid this concerning rise, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is exploring new approaches to improve whooping cough vaccines. On Friday, the FDA will convene a panel of experts to discuss the possibility of conducting human challenge trials. These studies would involve intentionally infecting vaccinated volunteers with the pertussis bacteria in order to expedite the development of more effective vaccines.
The current pertussis vaccines, while still providing significant public health benefits, have limitations. The acellular pertussis vaccines used today offer protection but are less effective over time due to the rapid waning of immunity. Additionally, the FDA has noted that mutations in circulating pertussis strains could also be contributing to the rise in cases.
Despite the resurgence of whooping cough, disease rates remain far lower than those recorded during the pre-vaccine era. However, the need for improved vaccines is clear. As the FDA considers new trials and the CDC continues to monitor the situation, health officials are urging everyone, particularly parents and caregivers, to stay vigilant and ensure they are up to date on their vaccines. The CDC currently recommends regular Tdap booster shots for adults every ten years, but only 39% of adults have received their booster in the last decade.
With schools back in session and cases on the rise, the U.S. faces an ongoing battle to contain this dangerous disease. The surge in whooping cough cases serves as a reminder of the importance of vaccines and the need for continued research to combat emerging public health threats.
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