Whooping cough is still elevated: what families should know

How many whooping cough cases did CDC report in 2026 through late July?

CDC's weekly table lists 6,883 cumulative US whooping cough, or pertussis, cases in 2026 through week 29, which ended July 25. That is below the 21,927 cases at the same point in 2025, but CDC says the counts are provisional. Check family vaccine records and talk to your doctor about Tdap and DTaP shots.

CDC's weekly national table shows whooping cough cases in 2026 below the same point in 2025. The table is a provisional count, so the numbers may change as reports come in.

What happened

CDC's week 29 table, ending July 25, 2026, lists 6,883 cumulative US cases for 2026. The same point in 2025 had 21,927 cases. The 2025 total through week 52 was 28,132. CDC says both years' counts are provisional.

What it means for your home

Checking family shot records is a practical step this week. Reports link the rise to falling vaccination rates.

What to do this week

Find each family member's vaccine records, including Tdap and DTaP shots.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether anyone in your home is due for a booster.
Talk to your doctor about shots for people who care for infants or who are pregnant.
Keep copies of vaccine records in your family emergency folder.
If someone in your home has a cough that lasts for weeks, talk to a doctor.

For a first aid and medicine plan at home, read our home medicine and first aid kit guide.

This briefing is general information, not medical, legal or electrical advice. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.