U.S. whooping cough is spreading at highest levels in a decade

Worst U.S. whooping cough outbreak in a decade has infected thousands America is experiencing its worst whooping cough outbreak in a decade. Experts say there's a cyclical nature to outbreaks like this but that the timing was altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. NPR

Whooping cough is spreading nationwide at the highest levels since 2014. There have been more than 16,000 cases this year — more than four times as many compared to the same time last year — and two confirmed deaths. And experts are concerned that the outbreak could worsen in the fall and winter months.

“More children are going back to school now, [which leads to] greater exposure,” said Dr. Eric Chow, the chief of epidemiology and immunization at the Seattle and King County public health agency. “We’re coming up on the kind of winter season when people are spending more time indoors with other people.”

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