Wisconsin health officials are urging residents to make sure their children are up to date on the whooping cough vaccine as they notice an uptick in cases. Whooping cough, formally known as pertussis,

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - The Virginia Department of Health says it is seeing five times the number of whooping cough cases as it did this time last year. Whooping cough, or pertussis, can initially resemble a common cold with a low-grade fever. Then, it usually develops into uncontrollable coughing, followed by a “whooping” sound.

DHS had logged 625 confirmed cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, in 2024. That's compared to 51 cases last year. So far this year, two-third of Wisconsin counties have reported at least one case of the respiratory infection.

DHS says whooping cough levels in Wisconsin are more than twelve times higher than in 2023. The spike marks levels not seen since before the pandemic. Wisconsin has recorded 625 confirmed cases of pertussis in 2024 so far.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is reporting a significant increase in Whooping Cough cases across the Badger State. Formally known as pertussis, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services has received reports of 625 confirmed cases,