The CDC is sounding the alarm.
Whooping cough cases are on the rise in the U.S. as students return to school, with the CDC reporting 291 cases in mid-September. States such as New York, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Pennsylvania have been hit particularly hard, with New York reporting the highest number of cases. This surge marks the highest level of whooping cough cases since 2015, and so far in 2024, more than 14,000 cases have been reported, which is significantly higher than last year.
Health officials have been cautioning about breakthrough infections in older children and adults, even though the most vulnerable groups remain unvaccinated young children and newborns. The increase in cases is partly attributed to the U.S. switching to pertussis vaccines that have fewer side effects but provide less long-lasting protection. Pennsylvania has noted that high school students have been driving the increase in cases, while in New York, a significant number of cases have occurred in teens.
In Oklahoma, the rise in cases has affected even older adults, with infections being reported in individuals up to 86 years old. Health experts point to waning vaccine protection and delayed diagnosis among adults as contributing factors for the spread and severity of infections in older populations.
In response to the rising number of cases, the FDA is considering speeding up the development of more effective pertussis vaccines, with an advisory panel set to discuss potential trials for adult booster shots. The CDC already recommends regular Tdap booster vaccines for adults every 10 years to maintain immunity.
Despite the uptick in cases, officials are urging calm, emphasizing that current infection rates are still low compared to the pre-vaccine era. They stress the importance of maintaining vaccinations and booster shots to control the spread of the disease.
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