Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The infection attacks the lining of the breathing passages. People can get ...

Whooping cough cases have surged to their highest levels since 2014, with health experts urging vaccinations and preventative ...

One hypothesis is that the switch from a vaccine containing whole Bordetella pertussis cells to an acellular version with pertussis antigens—a change that happened in the US around the year 2000—might ...

The best defense against pertussis is vaccination. The DTaP vaccine and the Tdap booster provide effective protection, reducing the risk of severe illness and limiting the spread. Parents should ...