Kansas ended 2024 with its highest number of whooping cough (pertussis) cases in nearly a decade, recording 241 cases compared to 66 in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC emphasizes vaccination as the most effective prevention method, though pertussis cases are expected to rise as typical infection patterns resume across the U.S. Both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals are at risk, as immunity from the vaccine diminishes over time.