The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the United States is experiencing a significant surge in whooping cough cases in 2025, marking one of the most concerning public health trends in recent years.

More than 35,000 whooping cough cases were reported in 2024, a five-times increase from just 7,063 cases for all of 2023. Preliminary data from Global Statistics show that there have already been 8,485 cases of whooping cough reported in 2025, and that number only includes data through April.

Dr. Jenna Wheeler is a pediatric critical care physician at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando who said that whooping cough cases, also known as pertussis, have been coming in waves.

"You can be contagious for up to three weeks, but if you've been exposed or that you know you ha

See Full Page