By  Lori Kersey

West Virginia Watch

December 19, 2025

https://westvirginiawatch.com

 Vials of Tdap vaccinations sit on a table during the Solano County health fair on Aug. 11, 2010, in Vallejo, California. Cases of whooping cough — which is preventable with a Tdap vaccine — are the highest they've been in West Virginia since 2010. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

With whooping cough cases in West Virginia at a record high this year, a physician said residents should consider getting a booster dose of the Tdap vaccine to protect them and the children around them.

As of this week, cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, had reached 199 — the highest number reported in West Virginia since 2010, according to data from the state Bureau for Public Health. Of those cases, 76 were active as of Dec. 15. 

Last year, West Virginia reported 46 cases of the illness, according to state health officials. 

Gailyn Markham, director of communication for the state Office of Shared Administration, said several factors may have contributed to this year’s surge, including potential mutations of the bacteria that causes pertussis and a natural three- to five-year peak. Nationally, there were six times as many cases reported in 2024 than in 2023, she said. Cases peaked in November 2024 but cases remained elevated this year, she said. 

“We continue to work closely with local health departments, health care providers, and community partners to identify cases quickly, ensure appropriate treatment, and control measures to help reduce the spread of the disease,” Markham said. 

In Kentucky, three unvaccinated infants have reportedly died of the illness this year. 

Dr. Lisa Costello, a pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics at WVU School of Medicine, said with the increased cases, she’s treated children with the illness for the first time in her career. 

“[Whooping cough] was not something that we saw with that much frequency,” she said. “And certainly with the rise in cases, we are unfortunately seeing more cases, particularly in infants. 

“They’re at higher risk of having more severe symptoms because their airways are small, their immune systems are still developing, and the pertussis or whooping cough can cause really intense coughing fits,” she said. “For infants, sometimes that can even have them stop breathing.”

Symptoms of pertussis start out like a common cold — runny nose and cough, but with whooping cough, the cough persists, Costello said. 

The name whooping cough comes from the sound that children in particular can make when trying to catch their breath during a coughing fit. Children can also throw up after a coughing fit. 

“If you’re having symptoms of a cough described as either of those, getting checked and tested would be important, because immunization is our best way to protect against pertussis,” Costello said. 

Antibiotics are available for those who test positive for the illness and preventative antibiotics are recommended for those in close contact with someone who tests positive. The sooner the person starts on antibiotics, the better, she said. 

Infants and children who get pertussis are at a higher risk of complications like pneumonia, seizures, brain inflammation, dehydration, low oxygen levels and even death. 

“Adults, if they get whooping cough or pertussis, may not have as severe symptoms. However, they could still spread to others who would potentially be impacted more severely, such as infants, pregnant people, immunocompromised people,” Costello said. 

A combination diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus vaccination and boosters are required for students beginning in kindergarten in West Virginia. While the state’s strong school immunization requirements have kept the rates higher for school age children, the state’s pre-school vaccination rates have historically been lower, Costello said. 

“When we’re talking about whooping cough, those who are at most risk are really those infants, so those under one year of age,” she said. “So that would be before school, and for many, even before child care — it just depends upon when you may be going to a child care facility. And certainly those would be areas where there could be increased risk for spread.”

She said it’s important for adults, particularly those who are in contact with people at an increased risk for severe illness, to stay up to date on their vaccines. Adults may not get severe symptoms, but they can pass it on to children who can. 

“My daughter turns 4 in the New Year, and before anyone came to visit her, everybody had to have an updated Tdap [vaccine], because I didn’t want to put her at increased risk,” she said. “And I got vaccinated when I was in my third trimester.”

Pregnant women who get a booster of the vaccine can protect their babies until they’re able to start their vaccination series, she said. 

“I think it’s important for people of all ages to have that discussion with a health care provider about what immunizations it’s important to stay up to date with,” Costello said.