The U.S. has recorded over 32,000 whooping cough cases this year, compared with around 5,100 as of mid-December last year. Infants are most vulnerable to the bacterial infection.

Summary

Whooping cough cases in the U.S. have surged to over 32,000 in 2024, marking the highest annual total in a decade and a six-fold increase from 2023.

Experts attribute the rise to waning vaccine immunity, declining vaccination rates, and improved diagnostic testing.

Infants are most vulnerable, with severe cases requiring intensive care, and unvaccinated children are at highest risk.

Vaccination rates have declined despite high levels. Health officials urge vaccination to combat the resurgence, emphasizing the disease’s potentially fatal complications.

    • floofloof@lemmy.caEnglish
      18·
      20 hours ago

      Someone needs to remove RFK Jr from power before he gets everyone killed. But I worry that he’s just the tip of the moronberg.

      • YtA4QCam2A9j7EfTgHrH@infosec.pub
        6·
        20 hours ago

        Unfortunately. I bet they don’t because their parents by and large weren’t selfish assholes. So the antivaxers are vaccinated. Their poor children are going to suffer for the ignorance of their parents and it makes me furious.

  • ShaggySnacksEnglish
    11·
    17 hours ago

    RFK Jr “Those are rookie numbers. We got to get those numbers up.”

  • Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    27·
    21 hours ago

    Good opportunity to get your tetanus booster, if you haven’t within the past 10 years; Tdap protects against tetanus, whooping cough, and diphtheria.

  • RedditWanderer@lemmy.world
    101·
    22 hours ago

    Wait till they ban vaccines in the U.S. You won’t hear big pharma complain, it’s much more expensive to continuously treat than to eradicate/vwccinate or cure.

    Big corpos are lining up for one hell of a 4 year feast, and it’s going to take decades to undo the damage. Thanks Obama.