Whooping cough can cause symptoms including severe bouts of coughing. But babies, who are most vulnerable to the disease, may not cough at all.

Whooping cough cases have surged dramatically, with more than 30,250 cases reported in the US in 2024 - over six times higher than the same period last year. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows 553 cases were reported in the week ending December 7,

The state Department of Health and Human Services said before the pandemic that it would see around 600 cases of whooping cough each year. This year, the number of cases has already surpassed 1,500, which is 2.