Whooping cough is spiking in Alaska, health authorities say

Alaska has seen roughly five times more reported cases of whooping cough so far this year than in all of last year, according to the state Department of Health.

The highly contagious respiratory disease has been diagnosed mainly in Southcentral Alaska during the past few months. Officials said 131 cases have been reported so far this year, while only 26 were reported during all of 2023.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a bacterial infection that can cause violent, uncontrollable coughing and make it challenging to breathe. It can impact people of all ages but is most dangerous and possibly deadly for infants.

Symptoms are often similar to a cold, with a runny nose, mild cough and fever that can progress into severe coughing spells.

Whooping cough significantly decreased across the country during and following the pandemic, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of cases reported this year is spiking nationwide and returning to pre-pandemic levels, the CDC said.

Alaska is on track to see its highest number of recorded cases in the last eight years. In 2016, there were 149 reported cases of whooping cough.

The best way to prevent whooping cough is through vaccination, the state health department said.