Health Officials Warn that Whooping Cough is on the Rise in WyCo

Health Officials Warn that Whooping Cough is on the Rise in WyCo

Published on October 31, 2025

Health Department recommends watching for symptoms and staying up to date on vaccinations

In the fall of 2025, Wyandotte County Public Health Department has seen an increase in cases of whooping cough (pertussis). The Health Department is encouraging community members and healthcare providers to take action to reduce the spread of whooping cough and other respiratory illnesses.

"We have seen multiple cases of whooping cough recently, and we are working with those individuals and people close to them to see if other people may have been exposed," said Terrie Garrison, Interim Director of the Wyandotte County Public Health Department. "We also know whooping cough is on the rise in our region and has been higher across the U.S. in recent years. It's important that people in our community keep an eye out for symptoms and stay on track with their routine vaccinations. This helps protect them and people near them who are most vulnerable to getting very sick from whooping cough, like babies and young children."

"It's also important for healthcare providers to do their part," said Garrison. "If providers see a patient with respiratory symptoms, they should consider that it may be whooping cough and offer testing and treatment when appropriate."

Health Department Guidance for Community Members

The Wyandotte County Public Health Department recommends that individuals and families watch for whooping cough symptoms and contact a healthcare provider if they or their child has symptoms. Whooping cough usually starts with cold-like symptoms and then gets worse, leading to violent coughing fits that can last for weeks or months.

The Health Department also recommends that community members stay up to date on vaccinations that protect against whooping cough. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination against whooping cough for young children, preteens, pregnant women, and adults who have never been vaccinated against whooping cough. The DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) vaccine is for children under seven years old, and the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine is for people ages seven and up.

Health officials recommend taking steps to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, such as staying home when sick and practicing good hygiene. Additionally, wearing a face mask can provide an extra layer of protection against respiratory illnesses, according to the CDC.

Health Department Guidance for Healthcare Providers

The Wyandotte County Public Health Department recommends that providers watch for pertussis symptoms among their patients, test for pertussis when appropriate, and report cases of pertussis to their local or state health department to help prevent further spread of disease. Providers can find more information on disease reporting from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services.

About Whooping Cough

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a respiratory illness caused by a type of bacteria (Bordetella pertussis). This bacteria spreads easily from person to person through the air, like when someone who is contagious coughs or sneezes. People can be contagious for weeks. Anyone can get whooping cough, but it can be very dangerous for infants, young children, and people with weakened immune systems (for example, a person who has leukemia).

After exposure to whooping cough, it usually takes 5 to 10 days for symptoms to appear and can take as long as 3 weeks. At first, symptoms are usually similar to a common cold, like a runny or stuffed-up nose, low-grade fever, and mild, occasional cough. Many babies with whooping cough don't cough at all but may struggle to breathe.

One to 2 weeks after symptoms start, people may develop a severe cough and start having rapid, violent, and uncontrolled coughing fits. These coughing fits can cause people to vomit, struggle to breathe, or even fracture (break) a rib. The illness is called "whooping cough" because some people make a high-pitched "whoop" sound when they inhale after a coughing fit. Coughing fits usually last 1 to 6 weeks but can last more than 2 months. After that, recovery can be slow. The cough gradually gets better but fits of coughing may return.

Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare provider. It is important to treat whooping cough early (before coughing fits begin). Early treatment can make the illness less serious and help prevent spreading it to others. It is also important to test for whooping cough early to find those who will respond to treatment. If someone gets seriously ill or has complications, such as apnea (pauses in breathing) or pneumonia, they may need to go to the hospital.

More information on whooping cough is available on the CDC website.

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