Whooping Cough Cases Surge in Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley

Imagine waking up to find that whooping cough cases have skyrocketed. That's exactly what's happening in Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported a five-fold increase in whooping cough cases nationally. But in Pennsylvania and Delaware, the situation is even worse. Delaware County alone has seen a massive jump from just one case last year to 182 this year. Why is this happening? Experts believe the COVID-19 pandemic's social distancing measures helped keep whooping cough at bay. Now that life is returning to normal, the highly contagious respiratory disease is making a comeback. The increase in cases highlights the importance of vaccinations. Young children are advised to get a series of four shots, and pregnant women should get the vaccine during every pregnancy. Adults should also get booster shots every 10 years.

Lora Werner, the interim director of the Delaware County Health Department, stresses the need for protective steps. She explains that infants under one year old with whooping cough often end up in the hospital. To combat this, the department has been sending alerts to the medical community. The CDC data shows that the U.S. has seen a rise from 3,260 cases at this time last year to 17,579 so far this year. This surge underscores the importance of basic health practices like handwashing and staying home when sick. Officials are working hard to educate the community as whooping cough makes a comeback.

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