Whooping Cough

Talking Points

The Current Situation

1. Whooping cough is a common vaccine-preventable illness. While whooping cough outbreaks are frequent, the CDC reported that cases have more than doubled as of May 2025 compared to the same time last year. 
2. Vaccines are the best way to prevent severe illness from whooping cough, especially for children under one year old and people with certain medical conditions. Babies can receive the whooping cough vaccines as soon as they turn two months old, per the CDC’s recommended vaccines schedule.

What is Whooping Cough?

1. The Cause: Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory illness. It is caused by a type of bacteria that infects the lungs and breathing passages like the nose, mouth, and throat. Anyone can get whooping cough, including babies and young children.  
   Some groups are more at risk for severe cases of whooping cough than others, including:  
   • Babies younger than 1 year old 
   • People with conditions that compromise the immune system 
   • People with moderate to severe asthma that is being medically treated 
2. The Symptoms: Early symptoms of whooping cough can appear similar to the common cold and include a runny nose, mild fever, and a cough. One to two weeks after the first symptoms, some people may develop severe coughs that can last between one to six weeks. These coughing fits can cause people to: 
   • Make a “whoop” sound when they breathe  
   • Vomit during or after the coughing fit  
   • Break a rib 
   • Struggle to breathe

How Whooping Cough Spreads

1. The bacteria that cause whooping cough can spread from person to person through the air. A person with whooping cough can spread the virus when they cough, sneeze, or speak, and other people breathe in the bacteria. 
2. Since early whooping cough symptoms may present like the common cold, infected people can unknowingly spread the bacteria for weeks. Babies are particularly susceptible to whooping cough from family members and caregivers who do not know they are infected. 
3. People with suspected or confirmed whooping cough should especially avoid contact with people who have not been vaccinated, cannot be vaccinated, or who have conditions like asthma that could make whooping cough more severe.

Whooping Cough Vaccination and Prevention

1. Vaccination: Whooping cough vaccines are the best way to protect against whooping cough for babies, children, and adults. People who receive the whooping cough vaccination have a lower risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death due to the infection than people who are unvaccinated or have not completed the recommended doses. Babies can get the vaccines that prevent whooping cough as soon as they are two months old, per the CDC’s recommended vaccines schedule. Pregnant people can also receive the whooping cough vaccine during their final trimester of pregnancy to help pass protection to newborns under two months old.
2. Other Forms of Prevention: In addition to vaccination and practicing good hygiene, people who have been exposed to whooping cough can take preventive antibiotics to help avoid infection. A healthcare provider can determine if preventive antibiotics are appropriate based on vaccine history, pre-existing conditions, and age.

Whooping Cough Testing, Symptoms Management, and Treatment

1. Testing and treatment basics: People can be tested for whooping cough as soon as cough symptoms appear. Healthcare providers recommend treating whooping cough with antibiotics to reduce the risk of severe illness and spread to others. 
2. For people not at risk for severe illness: Most people can manage their symptoms at home with antibiotics, provided in consultation with a healthcare provider. In addition to taking antibiotics, people can keep their homes clean, use a humidifier, and drink water to reduce the severity of whooping cough symptoms. 
3. For people at risk for severe illness or experiencing severe whooping cough symptoms: If whooping cough is severe, people should seek hospital care to avoid complications. In addition to antibiotics, hospital treatment focuses on monitoring breathing, preventing dehydration, and keeping breathing passages clear.