Recent data for pertussis (whooping cough) show that reports of pertussis cases have returned to pre-pandemic levels, peaking in 2024 and remaining elevated in 2025. Because pertussis spreads easily and can cause severe illness, early symptom recognition and appropriate infection prevention strategies are important for protecting patients, staff, and the community.
The following CDC resources can help support healthcare and public health professionals with early recognition and prevention of pertussis:
- Pertussis Webinar: CDC Project Firstline and the American Medical Association will host a webinar on April 7 focused on pertussis identification, transmission risks, infection prevention actions, post-exposure prophylaxis guidelines, and coordination with public health partners. Register today!
- Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Micro-Learn: Supports brief, on-the-job infection control training to help staff understand pertussis symptoms and reduce spread in healthcare settings.
- Infection Control for Pertussis: Recommendations for managing healthcare worker exposure to pertussis within the healthcare setting.
- Postexposure Antimicrobial Prophylaxis (PEP): Information on how and when to use PEP appropriately to protect those at high risk of severe infection from pertussis.
- Public Health Considerations for Pertussis: Information related to pertussis surveillance, prevention, and outbreak response to assist health departments in implementing public health strategies when appropriate.
- Pertussis Prevention: Information about current pertussis vaccination recommendations.
