Whooping cough cases are climbing at the fastest pace in years across the United States, particularly among teenagers, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This resurgence has prompted concerns among health officials and is driving discussions about more effective pertussis vaccines.
Sharp Increase in Cases
For the week ending September 14, a total of 291 cases were reported. New York reported the most cases with 44 infections, followed by Oklahoma with 40 cases, Ohio with 39, and Pennsylvania with 38. The current surge marks the highest numbers since 2015, following a peak in whooping cough cases the year prior. So far this year, 14,569 cases have been reported, which is more than four times the number of infections reported by this time last year.
Factors Contributing to the Resurgence
Health officials have been warning about a resurgence in breakthrough infections in older children and adults. While unvaccinated young children and newborns of unvaccinated mothers remain the most vulnerable to infection and severe disease, the rise in cases among older age groups is notable. One key factor is the switch to pertussis vaccines that have fewer side effects but are not as powerful or long-lasting as older shots.
In Pennsylvania, health officials have identified high school students as a significant driver of the surge in cases. The Pennsylvania Department of Health noted, "Historically, pertussis was primarily considered a childhood infection; however, there has been an increasing awareness of cases and hospitalizations occurring in older adults. This is likely due to a multitude of factors, including waning vaccine protection and the lack of timely recognition and testing by adult providers leading to more severe infections, co-infections and hospitalizations in older adults."
A similar trend is observed in New York, where 40% of cases outside of New York City have been in teens ages 15 to 19. In Oklahoma, cases have been seen in people as old as 86.
FDA Considers New Vaccine Strategies
In response to the rising cases, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering accelerating the development of more effective pertussis shots. An FDA advisory panel is scheduled to meet to discuss potential pertussis booster vaccine trials for adults. The CDC already recommends several pertussis shots for children and adults, including boosters of the Tdap vaccine, which contains antigens designed to protect against pertussis, for all adults every 10 years.
Context and Perspective
Despite the resurgence, health officials emphasize that current rates of disease are still low compared to the pre-vaccine era. FDA officials stated in briefing documents, "Despite the resurgence of pertussis, current rates of disease are very low relative to the rates reported during the pre-vaccine era."
