Whooping cough is spreading rapidly in NC. Here’s why & how to protect your children
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is spreading rapidly in North Carolina, and data show it isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
There were nearly 600 cases reported near the end of 2024, a total more than six times higher than the same time in 2023, NC Health News reported.
By the beginning of 2025, there were nearly 800 cases reported in the state, including 73 cases in infants, according to the North Carolina Medical Society. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the illness primarily affects infants and children under 6.
“Infants have the highest incidence rates in North Carolina and are at greatest risk of hospitalizations and death from pertussis,” the North Carolina Medical Society says.
Briana Pelton, the principal of Oberlin Magnet Middle School in Raleigh, sent a letter to parents Thursday, March 6, notifying them that a student at the school had been diagnosed with whooping cough.
Elsewhere in the state, “higher-than-usual pertussis activity” has also been reported in Caldwell County during the past few months, officials said in a news release Thursday.
Here’s what’s behind the recent surge in cases, how whooping cough spreads and where to get vaccinated in North Carolina.
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness.
Symptoms, which are similar to that of the common cold, typically take around five to 10 days to appear, but in some cases, they can take up to three weeks to develop, according to the North Carolina Medical Society.
Symptoms can include:
Runny or stuffed-up nose
Low-grade fever
Mild, occasional cough
One to two weeks after symptoms start, people may develop paroxysms, or coughing fits, which can last up to 10 weeks and gradually become worse as the illness continues, NCMS says.
Who’s most at risk for whooping cough?
“Anybody can get it, and it’s a pretty common disease at all ages, but the ones who get most seriously ill are young children,” Dr. David Weber, an infectious disease specialist at the UNC School of Medicine, told The Observer.
Younger children have narrower airways, which can result in more severe infections.
“It’s not uncommon to have them getting blue nails, face and hands just from lack of oxygen, because the cough can be so prolonged,” he said.
Why is whooping cough spreading in NC?
Experts say the return to pre-pandemic behaviors and vaccine hesitancy could be driving the recent surge in cases, NC Health News reported.
“People were wearing masks and not going to large group gatherings,” Weber said. “But because people stopped wearing masks and started going to large group gatherings, there’s more transmission.”
Data also show the whooping cough vaccine coverage among kindergarteners in North Carolina has dropped overall in recent years, from 96.5% before the 2014-15 school year to 93.5% by the 2023-24 year, according to the CDC.
“It is honestly a problem we deal with every day,” Suresh Nagappan, medical director of the Children’s Unit at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, told NC Health News about people debating whether to get vaccinated. “I think a lot of it is people have lost trust in authority.”
How does whooping cough spread?
Whooping cough spreads through contact with respiratory droplets expelled when someone talks, coughs or sneezes, according to Cary-based Western Wake Pediatrics.
“These droplets can land on or be rubbed into the eyes, nose, or mouth,” Western Wake Pediatrics says. “The droplets do not stay in the air. They usually travel no more than 3 feet and fall onto the ground.”
Who should get the whooping cough vaccine?
North Carolina law requires that all children get immunized against several illnesses, including whooping cough.
The diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP/Tdap) vaccine, which protects against whooping cough, is required for all children in the state.
The following vaccination schedule is recommended for children, according to the Mecklenburg County Health Department:
Four doses at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 15-18 months of age
A booster dose at 4-6 years of age
A dose of Tdap at 11-12 years of age
“Adults should also be vaccinated with Tdap,” the health department says. “This helps protect adults and adolescents from pertussis and prevents them from spreading the disease to others, especially infants.”
The CDC recommends vaccines for people who are pregnant between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation to help prevent the illness from being passed on to the child and for the child to develop immunity.
“There’s nothing worse for a fetus than a sick mom,” Weber said. “If you’re pregnant, particularly with the rising cases, think about getting a pertussis vaccine at the timing recommended by your provider to take care of your pregnancy.”
However, there are two types of exemptions for required immunizations, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services:
The state’s medical exemption says if a licensed doctor determines that a vaccine would be detrimental to a person’s health, they can be exempt from it.
There is also a religious exemption that allows those with religious beliefs that prevent them from getting immunizations to skip them, The News & Observer previously reported.
Where to get a whooping cough vaccine
You can visit any of the following places for whooping cough vaccines in NC:
▪ Pharmacies: Walk in or schedule appointments at pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens. You can also inquire with local neighborhood pharmacies.
▪ Grocery and big box stores with pharmacies: Walk in or schedule appointments at stores like Walmart, Target, Harris Teeter and Publix.
▪ Your healthcare provider: Of course, you can contact your doctor for an appointment.
How to protect yourself from whooping cough
Vaccination is the method of protection against whooping cough, according to the Mecklenburg County Health Department.
If you are sick, you should stay home from work or school to avoid infecting others, and if your children are sick, do not send them to school, health department advises.
Practicing good hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently, and covering your coughs and sneezes can help prevent whooping cough.
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 10:56 AM.
