Whooping cough is still circulating across the United States this summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed in its July 6, 2026 Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel update. The disease has already claimed two children's lives in 2026, and public health officials say the illness poses its greatest risk to infants who have not yet completed their vaccination series, a group that depends entirely on the immunity of people around them.
Pertussis, caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, is one of the most contagious respiratory diseases tracked by the CDC. What makes it particularly dangerous in a community setting is that adults and vaccinated older children — who are far more likely to be carriers — often present with nothing more than a persistent cough lasting weeks. They rarely suspect pertussis and rarely get tested.
