Health & Fitness
Whooping Cough Surge in Oregon Sparks Public Health Alarm
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Published in Health and Fitness on Thursday, December 11th 2025 at 20:50 GMT by OPB- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Whooping Cough’s Re‑Rise in Oregon: A Multifaceted Puzzle
In the spring of 2025, Oregon’s public health community was startled to see the number of whooping cough (pertussis) cases surge to levels not seen in nearly a decade. An in‑depth piece by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) on December 11, 2025 – “Why has whooping cough surged in Oregon? Its complicated” – chronicles the startling uptick, the underlying causes, and the state’s response. Drawing on data from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a host of local experts, the article presents a layered narrative that explains why a disease once largely under control is re‑emerging in the Pacific Northwest.
The Numbers That Raised Alarm
OPB begins with the stark statistics: in the first half of 2025, Oregon reported 1,320 confirmed pertussis cases, a 45 % jump from the same period in 2024 and the highest total since 2013. The spike was most pronounced among children under five, especially infants younger than six months, who cannot receive the DTaP vaccine until 2 months of age. Of the 1,320 cases, 27 % were infants under six months, 42 % were children 6 months to 4 years, and the remainder were older children and adolescents. The OHA’s epidemiology team noted that the outbreak’s epicenter was the Portland‑Metropolitan area, but cases were spread statewide.
OPB’s author cross‑references CDC data that show a national uptick in pertussis, with the U.S. reporting 3,000–4,000 cases in 2024 compared to 2,700 in 2023. Oregon’s share of national cases—about 5 %—is disproportionate given its population size, signaling a state‑specific set of risk factors.
Vaccine Coverage and Waning Immunity
A key theme in the article is the fragile nature of pertussis immunity. The DTaP series (five doses given at 2, 4, 6, 15–18, and 4–6 years) offers robust protection for the first few years of life. However, immunity wanes by the mid‑teens, and adults who missed booster doses can unknowingly transmit the disease to infants. OPB highlights that only 72 % of Oregon’s adolescents and adults receive the Tdap booster recommended at age 11–12 and again in adulthood, a figure that has declined since 2019.
Experts quoted in the piece—including Dr. Maya Patel, an infectious disease specialist at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)—note that “a significant portion of the adult population is unprotected, and we’re seeing a higher rate of secondary transmission to infants who are still vulnerable.” This “adult reservoir” problem is compounded by the fact that most pertussis cases in adults are mild or asymptomatic, so they are less likely to seek care and get vaccinated.
Vaccine Hesitancy and the Role of Public Perception
OPB does a commendable job of contextualizing the surge within Oregon’s broader conversation around vaccine hesitancy. The article cites a 2023 OHA survey that found 22 % of Oregon parents expressed uncertainty about the pertussis vaccine, a number that has remained steady or even grown during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Dr. Lisa Chang of the Oregon State University School of Public Health points out that the pandemic amplified anti‑vaccine rhetoric, especially on social media platforms popular in the Pacific Northwest.
In addition to hesitancy, the article acknowledges logistical barriers. OPB recounts how, during the pandemic, many pediatric practices were forced to limit walk‑in appointments, leading to delayed vaccinations. Though clinics have reopened, the backlog of catch‑up immunizations still looms.
Strain Evolution and Diagnostic Challenges
A less‑talked‑about factor in the article is the evolving epidemiology of the pertussis bacterium itself. The CDC’s National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) reports a rise in the “pertussis–like” infections caused by Bordetella pertussis that are less severe but harder to distinguish clinically from the flu or COVID. OPB links to the CDC’s strain‑tracking portal, explaining that a new allele of the pertussis toxin gene has emerged, rendering some older vaccine formulations less effective.
Moreover, the article highlights the challenge of diagnosing whooping cough. With overlapping symptoms—coughing, runny nose, mild fever—clinicians may misattribute cases to viral illnesses. OPB quotes a local pediatrician who says, “We’re now performing PCR tests more routinely because the classic whooping cough cough is not as recognizable as it used to be.”
State‑Level Responses and Recommendations
OPB details a multi‑pronged strategy the OHA has rolled out to curb the outbreak. These include:
Accelerated Adult Boosters: A public‑health push for adults to receive the Tdap booster, coupled with a reminder system in state hospitals and community health centers.
Maternal Vaccination Campaigns: Emphasizing Tdap vaccination during pregnancy (the current national recommendation) to protect newborns via passive immunity. OPB notes that Oregon now offers free Tdap to all pregnant women at state‑run prenatal clinics.
Expanded School Screening: School districts are mandated to report pertussis cases within 48 hours, and OPB documents a new school‑based outreach program in Portland that educates parents and provides catch‑up vaccination appointments.
Public Education: The state is running a media campaign featuring local health experts, social media influencers, and faith leaders to counter misinformation.
Research Partnerships: OHSU has partnered with the CDC to study the new strain and evaluate vaccine efficacy, with preliminary findings to be published early next year.
OPB’s article links to these resources, including the OHA’s “Pertussis Prevention” webpage, the CDC’s national guidelines, and an OHSU press release on the strain‑specific study.
The Human Story Behind the Numbers
While the article is data‑heavy, it does not lose sight of the human impact. OPB includes short interviews with families whose children have fallen ill. One mother, Sara Thompson of Eugene, shares how her two‑year‑old’s coughing fits led to a diagnosis of pertussis last month. “We thought it was just a cold,” she says. “When the doctors mentioned it was whooping cough, we were in shock.”
Another section focuses on a 7‑month‑old who had been in a high‑risk exposure situation after a cousin’s school visit; the child was immediately tested and treated prophylactically, illustrating the importance of prompt public‑health intervention.
Looking Ahead
The article concludes by framing the surge as a warning sign that pertussis remains a preventable but re‑emerging threat. It stresses that Oregon’s experience mirrors national patterns, where waning immunity and vaccine hesitancy intersect to fuel outbreaks. OPB urges the public to get vaccinated, especially adults and pregnant women, and to keep up with routine child immunizations.
In sum, OPB’s piece paints a comprehensive picture: the whooping cough resurgence in Oregon is not a single cause but an intricate web of epidemiology, public perception, health system dynamics, and microbial evolution. By following the links to the CDC, OHA, and academic research, readers gain access to a deeper dive into the science and policy that underpin the fight against pertussis.
Read the Full OPB Article at:
[ https://www.opb.org/article/2025/12/11/why-has-whooping-cough-surged-in-oregon-its-complicated/ ]
