20% of Pertussis Cases Adjacent to I-95

Throughout 2024, pertussis cases have increased across the United States. Preliminary data show that more than six times as many cases have been reported compared to the same time in 2023.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of pertussis cases (32,176) as of December 14, 2024. Pre-pandemic, about 10,000 cases are typically reported each year.

From a regional segmentation, about 20% (6,607) of these pertussis (whopping cough, bacterial infection) cases have been reported between Philadelphia, New Jersey (423), New York (2,340), and Boston (715).

In May 2024, the city of Philadelphia issued its initial Health Alert.

Then, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) issued a Health Alert on September 4, 2024, stating, 'This (outbreak) is likely due to a multitude of factors, including waning vaccine protection and the lack of timely recognition and testing by adult providers, leading to more severe infections, co-infections, and hospitalizations."

As of December 2024, the DOH has reported 2,808 cases and advised all healthcare providers to have an "increased suspicion of pertussis in all patients who present with symptoms."

The CDC says unvaccinated infants under one year old are at the most significant risk for severe disease because their immune systems are still developing. Furthermore, vaccination is the best way to prevent pertussis.

However, as typical infection patterns return to the United States, the CDC expects pertussis cases to increase in unvaccinated and vaccinated populations. Pertussis occurs in vaccinated people since protection from vaccination fades over time.

"Many adults living in the US are no longer protected against pertussis because vaccines received in childhood fade over time,' Jeri Beales, MSN, RN, informed Vax-Before-Travel.

"Pertussis vaccination is essential for people traveling internationally because cases are even higher in many places worldwide. So, to prevent your illness and to avoid bringing pertussis home to your family or community after travel, it's a good idea to update on vaccinations several weeks before your trip."

"Keep in mind, since there is not a pertussis-only vaccine, adults need to receive a combination vaccine called Tdap, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis," added Beales, who leads Destination Health Clinic, a Boston-area travel health provider specializing in health education and vaccination for international travelers.

The CDC recommends pertussis vaccination for everyone as it is the best way to protect against whooping cough. These vaccines work well, but protection fades over time.

Talk to a local pharmacist if you have questions about which vaccines are best for you and your family.