By Jacob Factor | KDVR-TV Fox 31 News
Whooping cough cases are rising across the country and in Colorado, with a nearly 270% increase in Colorado between 2023 and 2024, according to provisional Centers for Disease Control data.
Nationally, cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, increased from just over 7,000 cases in 2023 to nearly 35,500 cases in 2024, according to the CDC’s provisional 2024 report. The 2023 provisional report shows Colorado had 244 cases then, while 2024 saw 655 reported cases.
According to the CDC’s website, the U.S. is returning to “pre-pandemic patterns where more than 10,000 cases are typically reported each year.” The CDC says public health authorities focus on protecting people at the highest risk for serious illness.