Oregon sets unwanted whooping cough record

Oregon has seen a record-high number of cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, this year, prompting concern about the risks posed to vulnerable populations.

On December 10, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) recorded 1,475 reported annual cases of whooping cough, breaking the state’s record of 1,420 that was set in 1950.

While this year has topped the charts in terms of the number of cases, the outbreak began in the spring of 2024. Last year, 1,252 cases were reported.

Newsweek has contacted OHA outside of regular working hours via email for comment.

Why It Matters

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a contagious respiratory illness, and while it may begin like a common cold, the coughing can last for weeks, or even months in some cases.

The infection can result in paroxysms, known as coughing fits, which can make it difficult for a person to breathe, particularly for young children and older adults. These coughing fits can be so intense that they can result in vomiting, and even rib fractures.

Vaccinations are known to be the best way to protect against whooping cough, but there has been a notable decline in the number of children getting the Tdap vaccine nationwide.

What To Know

OHA has urged residents in the state to ensure that they are vaccinated and that their family is too, especially those who are pregnant or spend time with babies.

“I worry people may not fully appreciate the risk pertussis poses as case counts are rising, especially for babies and older adults,” Dr. Howard Chiou, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA’s Public Health Division, said in a statement.

Chiou said that one of the “most important things” someone can do to protect a newborn is to “get the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy.”

“Unfortunately, we’ve seen a statewide decline in maternal Tdap vaccination rates in Oregon, which is a dangerous trend,” Chiou added.

Vaccination rates among kindergartners has decreased nationally in recent years, not only in regard to the Tdap vaccine used to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, but also other vaccines as well, meaning other illnesses have also been on the rise.

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins University, told Newsweek that when cases surge, “it’s especially critical that pregnant individuals are vaccinated, so babies have antibodies from the time they are born.”

He also said that vaccination is also important for those who have extended contact with infants, and that parents should be “alert to potential exposures for their young infants.”

“Infant immunization is important, but the first dose is not given until 2 months of age and full protection takes past the first year to develop,” he said. “That’s why the key is for vaccination during pregnancy and vaccination of those around young infants.”

Oregon is also not the only state to have experienced a major uptick in cases this year. Outbreaks have been reported in Texas, California, Florida and a number of others.

“Cases of pertussis are surging nationally,” Sharfstein said.

In 2024, whooping cough cases increased by six times compared to 2023, and cases in 2025 remained elevated, according to data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What People Are Saying

Pejman Rohani, a professor in ecology and infectious diseases at the University of Georgia, told Newsweek: “Immunization data indicate a declining trend in coverage [though still around 90 percent] and a sharp increase in non-medical exemptions. Another important idea here is the possibility that the COVID pandemic led to a drastic reduction in pertussis transmission and generated a surplus of individuals who are unvaccinated and susceptible to pertussis, hence the subsequent outbreak is unusually large. Similar patterns have been noted elsewhere around the world.”

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins University, told Newsweek: “It’s caused by a contagious bacteria that spreads through respiratory droplets. It can feel like a mild cold or a lingering cough, so people often remain in contact with others even when sick. For many people, pertussis is a mild infection. For others, pertussis is a pretty significant lingering cough. For young infants, pertussis can cause severe disease and even death. When cases surge generally, the risk is that more infants will fall seriously ill—and that is what is happening in Oregon and elsewhere.”

John Glasser, a professor of health policy and management at Emory University, told Newsweek: “Vaccines are our most effective public health intervention. Largely because of school entry requirements, several diseases have been eliminated in the U.S. It has always been necessary to counter complacency with consistent public health massaging. But the current administration’s antipathy has led to recent reductions in the proportions receiving recommended vaccinations. Immunity against most diseases wanes, whether naturally acquired or vaccine induced, and immunity against bacterial diseases generally wanes faster than that against viral ones. Consequently, we should anticipate resurgences of vaccine-preventable diseases, especially respiratory ones. The most infectious diseases against which immunity wanes the fastest will be first. Thus, the resurgences of measles, which is very infectious, and pertussis, a bacterial disease, are not unexpected.”