The CDC reported in its Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel update that whooping cough continues to spread throughout the United States this summer.
Whooping cough, or pertussis, continued circulating across the United States during summer 2026, even though overall respiratory-illness activity was relatively low. Based on CDC surveillance through late May, approximately 4,724 cases and two child deaths had been reported. Although case numbers were substantially lower than during the unusually high levels recorded in 2025, the disease remained a public-health concern, particularly in California, Washington, Ohio, Florida, and Oregon.
Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection that can affect people of all ages. Adults and vaccinated older children may experience only a prolonged cough and may not realize they are infected, allowing them to unknowingly spread the bacteria. Infants, especially those younger than six months and have not yet been vaccinated, face the greatest risk of hospitalization, breathing complications, and even death.
The illness typically begins with cold-like symptoms, such as having a runny nose, mild cough, and low fever. Later on it progresses to severe coughing attacks that can cause vomiting, breathing difficulty, or a distinctive “whooping” sound when the person inhales. In infants, the typical whoop may be absent, instead, they may temporarily stop breathing or develop a blue or gray skin color. A cough lasting longer than two weeks should be evaluated by a healthcare provider, while breathing problems or color changes in an infant require immediate emergency care.
