Whooping Cough Resurgence: A Growing Concern

Why is whooping cough making a dangerous comeback in the U.S.? Falling vaccination

rates, waning immunity, and outdated tracking systems are fueling outbreaks from Texas

to Florida. Young infants are most at risk. Former CDC immunization chief Dr. Demetre

Daskalakis explained that pertussis cycles naturally with dropping immunity, but effective communication

and vaccination can curb outbreaks and prevent severe outcomes, especially in kids

who can't be vaccinated. In the early 1900s, whooping cough wreaked havoc among children. Now,

DTaP and Tdap shots protect against it, but fewer toddlers are getting vaccinated

post-COVID. Texas, for example, saw cases jump from 1,928 in 2024 to