Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, causes a distinctive gasping sound when infants struggle to breathe during coughing attacks. This bacterial infection is resurging across the United States in 2025, with significant implications for public health. “Whooping cough is most severe in young children, and particularly infants under one year of age, especially those who haven’t received their initial vaccinations for whooping cough or pertussis,” Dr. Nicolas Cortes-Penfield of the University of Nebraska Medical Center explains. “However, it can also cause severe disease in adults who have underlying immune problems. So for example, let’s say you’re receiving chemotherapy for cancer … Continue reading Whooping Cough Cases Double to 8,077 in 2025: CDC Warns Infants Face Highest Risk of Complications