MILWAUKEE -- Whooping cough is at its highest level in a decade for this time of year, U.S. health officials reported Thursday.
There have been 18,506 cases of whooping cough reported so far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. That's the most at this point in the year since 2014, when cases topped 21,800.
The increase is not unexpected -- whooping cough peaks every three to five years, health experts said. The numbers indicate a return to levels before the COVID-19 pandemic, when whooping cough and other contagious illnesses plummeted.
Still, the tally has some state health officials concerned, including those in Wisconsin, where there were about 1,000 cases so far this year, compared to a total of 51 last year.
Nationwide, CDC reported that kindergarten vaccination rates dipped last year and vaccine exemptions are at an all-time high. On Thursday, it released state figures showing that about 86% of kindergartners in Wisconsin got the whooping cough vaccine, compared to more than 92% nationally.
People are also reading... Vote now in the Week 7 Brazos Valley football player of the week poll Manziel to appear at grand opening today Protesters outside Christland Church demand accountability Texas A&M professor fatally struck by city of College Station solid waste vehicle A broken plane and faith led C.J. Wilcher to transfer to Texas A&M from Nebraska Like thousands of other A&M students, James Lutz's Aggie Ring has a story behind it Jackson breaks school record in Franklin football team's shootout win over Troy CESSNA: Elko trying to build a championship culture Cessna: Several of A&M's future opponents made progress on Saturday Navasota man facing murder charge back in jail after traffic stop Texas A&M sponsors NASCAR team for two races to recognize veterans College Station couple facing child abuse charges Rudder leans on defense in holding off University in district opener Brazos Valley football honor roll -- Week 7 Bryan football team falls to Harker Heights on the road Wellness US school-entry vaccination rates fall as exemptions keep rising By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts out like a cold, with a runny nose and other common symptoms, before turning into a prolonged cough. It is treated with antibiotics.
Whooping cough used to be very common until a vaccine was introduced in the 1950s, which is now part of routine childhood vaccinations. It is in a shot along with tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. The combo shot is recommended for adults every 10 years.
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts
"They used to call it the 100-day cough because it literally lasts for 100 days," said Joyce Knestrick, a family nurse practitioner in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Whooping cough is usually seen mostly in infants and young children, who can develop serious complications. That's why the vaccine is recommended during pregnancy, to pass along protection to the newborn, and for those who spend a lot of time with infants.
Wellness IV fluid supply disruptions prompt Biden administration to invoke wartime powers to bolster recovery By Deidre McPhillips, CNN
Public health workers say outbreaks this year are hitting older kids and teens.
In Pennsylvania, most outbreaks were in middle school, high school and college settings, an official said. Nearly all the cases in Douglas County, Nebraska, are among schoolkids and teens, said Justin Frederick, deputy director of the health department.
That includes his own teenage daughter.
"It's a horrible disease. She still wakes up -- after being treated with her antibiotics -- in a panic because she's coughing so much she can't breathe," he said.
Wellness Walgreens to close 1,200 stores as US pharmacies struggle to define a new role By TOM MURPHY - AP Health Writer
It's important to get tested and treated with antibiotics early, said Dr. Kris Bryant, who specializes in pediatric infectious diseases at Norton Children's in Louisville, Kentucky. People exposed to the bacteria also can take antibiotics to stop the spread.
"Pertussis is worth preventing," Bryant said. "The good news is that we have safe and effective vaccines."
How the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic hit states across America California Colorado Connecticut Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri Montana New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Wisconsin Build your health & fitness knowledge
Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.