Minnesota sees big spike in cases of pertussis/whooping cough

As the wintertime respiratory illness season gets underway with the usual cases of flu and colds, another ailment is affecting more Minnesotans this year: pertussis.

More than 2,300 cases of pertussis — commonly known as whooping cough — have been reported in the state in 2024 (as of Dec. 5). That’s compared with just 61 in 2023, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. After a pandemic-related lull, cases of the vaccine-preventable disease are up nationally as well.

Most pertussis cases this year are clustered in the Twin Cities, but Olmsted County has seen 34 cases in 2024, so far, up from three in 2023.

While people of all ages can get sick with pertussis, most cases in Olmsted County are being found in school-age children and teens.

“In terms of activity, we are seeing it confined largely to school-age children, the 6 to 17 age group,” said Matthew Giljork, an Olmsted County Public Health epidemiologist. “That’s just mainly attributed to some outbreaks that we’ve been seeing, particularly in high schools.”

Vaccination against pertussis is routinely given in five doses in early childhood and again when a child is 11 or 12 years old. Those who are pregnant also receive the vaccine — which also protects against diptheria and tetanus — in the third trimester.

“With pertussis, immunity to pertussis really only lasts a couple of years from your last dose,” Giljork said. “The severity of illness is reduced in vaccinated individuals.”

Pertussis has similar symptoms to other respiratory illnesses, including fever, body aches, sore throat, runny nose and coughing. Giljork said a sign that you have pertussis, as opposed to the flu or COVID-19, is if your cough lasts two weeks or longer.

“Typically, you also have coughing fits … that can last upwards of 30 seconds or more,” Giljork said. “A common symptom of pertussis would be a ‘whoop’ — that’s why it’s called whooping cough. When you breathe in, there’s kind of a high-pitched wheezing sound or ‘whooping’ sound.”

The guidance for avoiding catching and spreading pertussis is similar to other diseases: staying up to date with vaccinations, staying home when sick, washing your hands and covering coughs and sneezes.

“We do send out letters to individuals who are identified as having an exposure, so a lot of parents probably have gotten them from the school district,” Giljork said. “You would want to use that guidance.”