United States: Two Louisiana babies lost their lives due to pertussis infection in the previous six months.
The authorities in Washington state confirmed the first fatality from pertussis disease after more than ten years without such a case.
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This year, confirmed deaths from pertussis were reported in Idaho and South Dakota, while Oregon recorded two deaths and the most cases since 1950 during the previous year.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic period marked a record low in pertussis cases across America until a shocking increase exceeding 1500% occurred while Texas residents battled one of the nation’s worst measles outbreaks in small West Texas towns.
Fatalities linked to the disease grew to ten last year from the previous two to four yearly deaths before the COVID-19 pandemic.
"‘Not just measles’: Whooping cough cases are soaring as vaccine rates decline" – Daily Kos #SmartNews MY YOUNGER BROTHER ALMOST DIED FROM WHOOPING COUGH WORST WAS HEARING HIM STRUGGLING TO BREATHE https://t.co/my20U5vwAJ
— Kyleellen (@Kyleellen) April 14, 2025
The reported number of cases this year shows potential to cross the record total from 1950.
Public health experts, along with medical researchers and doctors, emphasize that the measles outbreak, with its figure exceeding 600 cases, marks only the beginning of a more severe outbreak to follow.
The decline in public health spending under Trump’s administration threatens to worsen future infection outbreaks alongside the growing number of vaccine-preventable disease-preventable cases.
Federal data indicates a substantial decrease in national vaccine rates for four major shots after the pandemic started, based on ProPublica’s evaluation of current kindergarten vaccination statistics.
The numbers of vaccinated people have reduced across the board for measles, mumps, and rubella and additional preventable diseases, including pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, and polio, according to federal statistical data.
The increase in unvaccinated communities creates a danger for newborns and small children in the event these diseases reappear, according to public health experts.
The medical community considers contagious measles to be the primary warning sign, but pertussis cases present similar evidence despite receiving insufficient attention.
According to Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious diseases doctor in New York City and author of the book ‘Booster Shots: The Urgent Lessons of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children’s Health,’ “This is not just measles,” as CNN Health reported.
“It’s a bright red warning light,” Ratner added.
“There is a direct correlation between vaccination rates and vaccine-preventable disease outbreak rates,” said a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
“Decreases in vaccination rates will likely lead to more outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases in Utah,” the expert added.