Whooping cough makes return to Vermont after pandemic hiatus
VTDigger
Reported cases of whooping cough are becoming more common across Vermont after remaining low for the past five years, according to a Vermont Department of Health official.
Over the past three months, 22 cases of pertussis — commonly known as whooping cough — have been reported across six Vermont counties, said Deputy State Epidemiologist Laura Ann Nicolai. The last time numbers were that high, she said, was in 2019, when a total of 43 cases were reported over the course of the year.
“Frankly, we’re overdue for one of these waves of increased activity,” Nicolai said. Overall, pandemic regulations and behaviors, such as wearing a mask and closely monitoring cold-like symptoms, led to a statewide drop in whooping cough cases in recent years, she said. In fact, she added, only one pertussis case was reported to the state health department in 2023.
But as Vermonters have changed their habits, whooping cough has re-emerged as a health concern — especially in areas where pertussis vaccination rates are low, Nicolai said.