The CDC reports a surge in whooping cough cases, with nearly six times as many cases now compared to this time last year. In California alone, there have been about 1,500 cases—a 215% increase from 2023.

Minnesota is reporting the highest number of whooping cough cases in more than a decade, the state Department of Health says. As of last Wednesday, 2,324 cases of whooping cough, also called pertussis,

Dr. Krishnan Subrahmanian with Hennepin Healthcare's Richfield Clinic says the reason for the spike is a combination of many factors, from the spread after Thanksgiving holiday gatherings to vaccination lapses since COVID.

Deaconess is set to host a press conference on Wednesday to address a recent surge of pertussis (whooping cough) in the community. The Centers for Disease Control says whooping cough is a very contagious respiratory illness that may appear to begin like a common cold,