Pertussis cases remain stable, but elevated across Virginia, United States
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — While the height of respiratory disease season has come and gone, cases of Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, remain stable but elevated.
'Last year, right around this time we saw a big spike in cases within the community,' said Jason Deese, an epidemiologist with the Virginia Department of Health.
He works out of the New River Health District office and says his team investigates several cases of Pertussis each week, despite being located in a place he says has high vaccination rates.
According to the CDC, there have already been 207 reported cases in Virginia and 8,472 nationwide.
At this time in 2024, those numbers sat at 78 and 4,252 respectively.
Elevated numbers to begin 2025 are carrying on the spike that began in spring 2024 that Deese was referring to.
Virginia reported just 120 cases across 2023 before watching that number soar to 788 in 2024.
A similar trend was reflected nationally, when the number jumped from 7,063 U.S. cases in 2023 to 35,435 in 2024.
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Deese said it is not uncommon to see a spike in cases every three-to-five years, but believes the elevation we are experiencing right now could be tied at least in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.
'I think with a lot of what went on during the [COVID-19] pandemic, there was less diagnosis of pertussis but possibly also a little less transmission,' he said.
Deese believes natural immunity to pertussis was lowered over the past several years, rendering people more susceptible to contracting it now.
He also noted that as a contagious respiratory illness, pertussis is not limited to one season or one demographic.
'We've been seeing it in all age groups, to be quite honest with you. In children all the way up to elderly folks,' Deese said.
The Virginia Department of Health says that getting vaccinated and receiving regular booster shots are the best way to protect against the disease.
They advise that if you do get sick, you stay home, seek medical attention, and get a diagnosis.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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