WASHINGTON —

Whooping cough cases are up again in 2025, data shows.

For the 48th week of the year ending Nov. 29, there were more than 25,800 cases of whooping cough in the United States in 2025. Weekly cases have slowed throughout the year, but cases are still up compared to the years just before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a contagious respiratory illness. It gets its name based on the "whooping" someone makes while gasping for air after coughing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination for people of all ages, starting at 2 months old. Adults should get a booster dose every 10 years.

Babies under 1 year are the most at risk, especially under 3 months, our partners at PolitiFact reported . Around 1% of babies die fr

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