MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Rates of whooping cough in the U.S. continue to climb, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Over 32,000 cases reported have been reported as of mid-December -- about six times more than there were at this time last year, and more than there have been since 2014, according to CNN.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a very contagious respiratory illness that spreads through bacteria in the air. It is common in the United States, with frequent outbreaks.

Reported cases have been climbing for several months with about a quarter of all cases reported in Illinois, Indiana and other states in the Midwest. Pennsylvania has more reported cases compared to other states.

Some states, such as Oregon, ticked a record high number of cases recently. For 2024, Oregon recorded the highest number of whooping cough cases since 1950, a news release stated.

Typically, the infection starts with cold-like symptoms before a serious, full-body cough can develop. The name comes from the sound people make as they try to catch their breath between coughs.

The coughing can last for several weeks or even months.

Cases dropped during the pandemic, but according to the CDC, recent trends suggest that the U.S. is returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Whooping cough can be serious for people of all ages, yet children younger than one year old are especially vulnerable because their immune systems are not fully developed.

Prevention in the form of vaccination is the best way to protect against whooping cough, the CDC says; the agency recommends that children get the DTaP vaccine and adolescents and adults get the TDaP vaccine.

Among children, vaccination rates for this infectious disease have fallen with only about 92% of kindergartners having gotten their DTaP vaccine for the 2023-2024 school year.

Antibiotics can treat the infection, but they work best if it’s caught within the first few weeks.

If you think you've been exposed to the respiratory illness, ask your doctor about preventive antibiotics.

More information

The CDC has more on whooping cough (pertussis).

SOURCE: CNN; CDC; Oregon Public Broadcasting