Alert Michiganders: Whooping Cough Cases Are On The Rise

You don't hear about whooping cough often but cases are rising in Michigan at four times the normal level.

What is Whooping Cough

I don't know that I've ever had whooping cough but I know it has nothing to do with COVID-19 since it's been around for centuries. The first known whooping cough epidemic was in Paris, France, in 1578.

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Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial infection in the lungs and airways. Whooping cough is often mistaken for the common cold because of the symptoms of a runny nose, sore throat, and low fever.

It is usually about a week later after symptoms begin when intense coughing fits begin. When the coughing fits begin they often occur for several minutes at a time. People often experience thick mucus and sometimes the intense coughing will lead to vomiting. Coughing can last anywhere from one to six weeks and in severe cases ten weeks.

You can be tested for whooping cough but some antibiotics can be used to help limit the severity of the infection. A  vaccine for pertussis (whooping cough) is available that has been around since 1914.

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Whooping Cough Cases On the Rise in Michigan

According to WOOD, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed nearly 18,000 cases of whooping cough across the country in 2024. Last year in Michigan there were only 58 cases, this year there have been 473 cases reported.

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There is no word on why so many whooping cases have been reported in Michigan this year compared to years past. If you feel you have the symptoms contact your doctor. There is a vaccine that is recommended for adults to get once every 10 years if they would like to prevent getting whooping cough.