The U.S. has seen an increase in whooping cough cases this year, with five times more cases being reported compared to this time last year. New York State has the second highest number of cases in the nation currently.

Whooping cough — highly contagious and potentially dangerous — has surged in California to levels not seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There were over 1,000 cases more between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2024 compared to last year during that same period.

California's cases of whooping cough are more than six times as high as last year, and in Los Angeles County, reports of the infectious disease rose by nearly 119%. It reflects a trend seen across the U.

Cases of whooping cough rising in California in 2024