Delaware health officials are asking parents, schools, and expecting mothers to watch for whooping cough after the state recorded 13 cases so far this year, with infections reported among teenagers and infants. The count is up from 11 in all of 2025, but below the 45 cases recorded in 2024, Delaware Surgeon General Dr. Neal Hockstein told Delaware Public Media.
Officials said this is not an outbreak. "So we haven't seen a big surge, but if we compare this to 2023, there was only one case," Hockstein said. Reports of possible spread at some schools surfaced in September.
For families, the main concern is the youngest children. Babies cannot start their own whooping cough shots until 2 months old, so a newborn's best early protection comes from a vaccine the mother receives before birth.
Teens and Infants Behind Delaware's Summer Alert
The Division of Public Health first flagged the trend in Health Advisory 535, issued Aug. 12. It described an increase in cases beginning June 11, mainly among adolescents and infants, and noted that some cases involved people who had been vaccinated.
The advisory asked clinicians to test patients with a prolonged cough for pertussis "regardless of immunization status."It recommended nasal swab PCR testing, early antibiotics for suspected cases, and preventive antibiotics within 21 days of exposure for household and close contacts, especially high-risk contacts such as infants and women in their third trimester of pregnancy.
The state has not released an age breakdown of the 13 cases, hospitalization numbers, or case counts by county.
Delaware's picture differs from the national one. In a July update, the CDC said preliminary data show fewer pertussis cases reported nationally in 2026 than at the same point in 2025. That makes the local rise worth watching without treating it as a crisis.
Newborns Carry the Highest Risk
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a bacterial infection that spreads through coughing and sneezing. In older children and adults, it often starts like a mild cold and turns into weeks of harsh coughing. In babies, it can be life-threatening. Their narrow airways can make breathing difficult, and some infants stop breathing briefly instead of coughing.
The CDC says infants younger than 1 year have the highest reported rate of pertussis and face the greatest risk of serious illness and death. Hockstein said the illness can last six weeks or longer, and the coughing is sometimes severe enough to make people vomit.
Teenagers matter in this chain. Protection from childhood shots fades over time, and an adolescent with a mild, lingering cough can bring the bacteria home to a newborn sibling without anyone realizing it. That is why Delaware's advisory highlights the Tdap booster at ages 11 to 12 and a single Tdap dose for adults who never had one.
The Tdap Shot During Pregnancy
The CDC recommends Tdap during each pregnancy between weeks 27 and 36, preferably early in that window. The mother's body makes protective antibodies that pass to the baby before birth and help protect the infant until their own shots begin.
According to the CDC, Tdap given during weeks 27 through 36 lowers the risk of whooping cough in babies younger than 2 months by 78%. It also protected 9 in 10 babies from infections serious enough to need hospital care.
A dose is advised in every pregnancy, even when pregnancies are only a year or two apart, so each baby gets the most protective antibodies. Babies then begin the DTaP series at 2 months, with more doses through early childhood.
Families expecting a baby can also ask partners, grandparents, and regular caregivers to check whether they are up to date on Tdap. Fewer unprotected people around a newborn means fewer chances for the bacteria to reach the baby.
The shot is not a guarantee. Delaware's advisory noted that some of this summer's cases were in vaccinated people, which is consistent with protection fading over time. Still, Tdap during pregnancy offers newborns strong protection during their most vulnerable weeks. Pregnant women who are unsure whether they received Tdap in a past pregnancy should still get it this time, since each baby needs fresh antibodies.
A Cough That Needs a Doctor's Call
Early whooping cough symptoms look like a cold: a runny nose, a low-grade fever, and a mild, occasional cough. One to two weeks later, the cough can turn into fits of rapid coughing, followed by a high-pitched "whoop" as the person breathes in, or vomiting during or after coughing.
Parents should call a pediatrician about a cough that lingers or comes in fits, especially if someone in the household is pregnant or has a new baby. Early treatment with antibiotics matters, and Delaware's advisory urges clinicians to start it when pertussis is suspected.
Babies may not cough or whoop at all. An infant who has pauses in breathing, turns blue or gray, or struggles to breathe needs urgent medical care. Families should call ahead so staff can take steps to prevent spread in the waiting room.
Clinicians can report suspected cases to the Division of Public Health's Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 302-744-4990 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or at 1-888-295-5156 at any time.
Key Questions Answered
How many whooping cough cases does Delaware have? Delaware Surgeon General Dr. Neal Hockstein said there are 13 cases so far in 2026, compared with 11 in 2025 and 45 in 2024.
Is this an outbreak? Officials say no. They are asking communities to stay alert after cases among teens and infants and reports of possible spread at some schools.
Who faces the highest risk? Babies younger than 1 year, especially those too young for their first shots at 2 months.
When should pregnant women get Tdap? The CDC recommends Tdap between weeks 27 and 36 of every pregnancy, preferably early in that window.
How well does Tdap in pregnancy work? It lowers the risk of whooping cough in babies younger than 2 months by 78% and protects 9 in 10 babies from infections needing hospital care, according to the CDC.
When should a coughing child see a doctor? Call a pediatrician for a cough that lingers or comes in fits. Seek urgent care if a baby has pauses in breathing or turns blue or gray.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
