Title: Whooping Cough Cases Surge in the U.S. Amid Pandemic-Induced Vaccination Delays
Subheading: CDC Reports Over Fourfold Increase in Pertussis Cases as Americans Miss Routine Immunizations
Byline: [Your Name], Staff Reporter
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The number of whooping cough cases in the United States has skyrocketed, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting a more than fourfold increase in less than a year. Health experts believe the surge in pertussis cases is a direct consequence of Americans missing vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the CDC, the number of reported whooping cough cases has climbed from 3,475 last year to 14,569 so far this year. The rise is attributed to a decline in vaccination rates that began when the pandemic disrupted routine healthcare services.
Children during COVID did not see their health care providers and they may have done some telemedicine, but we can’t vaccinate through the computer, explained Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases specialist at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. And we haven’t gotten everyone caught up yet back to their routine vaccination levels.
Whooping cough vaccines, known as DTap for children and TDap for adults, also protect against diphtheria and tetanus. These vaccines are considered the most effective means of preventing the disease and its complications. However, concerns about the vaccines’ waning effectiveness have been raised by previous research, with some experts calling for the development of new vaccines.
Despite the challenges, the U.S. is seeing reported cases return to pre-pandemic levels, when the country typically experienced over 10,000 cases annually. States like Pennsylvania, New York, and California are leading the nation in the number of whooping cough cases, with Pennsylvania reporting 2,008 infections this year—nearly double that of California.
The early symptoms of whooping cough, which include a runny nose, mild cough, and low-grade fever, can easily be mistaken for the common cold or other respiratory illnesses. This makes the disease particularly challenging to diagnose and easy to spread, according to Dawn Nolt, a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, Ore.
The first week or so of illness looks like any other respiratory disease, Nolt said. When, in fact, it could be pertussis and you’re just infecting people around you.
Whooping cough is distinguished from other respiratory illnesses by its severe coughing fits, which can last for extended periods and lead to difficulties breathing.
Health authorities are urging Americans to get back on track with their vaccinations to prevent further spread of the disease. The CDC and local health departments are working to educate the public on the importance of staying current with immunizations, especially as the country continues to recover from the pandemic’s impact on healthcare services.
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