Washington Post More than five times as many pertussis cases had been reported as of mid-October compared with the same time last year, according to provisional numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is characterized by persistent, chronic fits of coughing followed by a “whoop” sound, and is sometimes called the “100-day cough.” Though rates of the illness had been low since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of reported cases this year — almost 20,000 — is similar to pre-pandemic levels. The CDC also says infection numbers are probably underestimated. There are diagnostic tests, but they are more reliable early in the illness.
Antibiotics can be effective in treating the disease but should be given early on. By the time pertussis presents with a persistent cough, it can be too late to test for or treat. A pandemic-related decrease in pertussis vaccination rates and waning effectiveness of the vaccine may be factors in the rise in cases, the CDC said.