Whooping cough cases surge fivefold in the US with some states seeing dramatic increases

Whooping cough cases in the U.S. have surged to over 15,000 in 2024, five times higher than last year. This increase is attributed to vaccine hesitancy and the emergence of mutated strains. Pennsylvania reported the highest cases, with over 2,000. Idaho has seen a dramatic rise, with cases up 17 times compared to last year. Alaska reported a nearly 70-fold increase, from four cases last year to 297 this year. The disease poses serious risks, especially to young children. Health officials emphasize the importance of vaccination to prevent whooping cough. The CDC notes that the bacteria can mutate, potentially evading vaccines. Some states, like Nevada and Utah, have reported fewer cases this year.