Whooping cough cases are soaring this season

(CNN) — The United States has seen nearly 28,000 whooping cough cases this year.

It’s the second year in a row the U.S. has topped 25,000 cases — another sign of the risks of falling vaccination levels.

The infection can lead to severe illness or death, especially in young children.

Roughly a third of babies under age 1 who have whooping cough require hospitalization.

At least 13 deaths from whooping cough have been reported in the U.S. in 2025; most were children under age 1.

That’s according to the Pan American Health Organization, which also reported that the rise in whooping cough is not unique to the U.S.

Last year, 977,000 cases were reported to the World Health Organization, a fivefold increase since 2023.

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