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Whooping Cough Cases Surge in the US, Reaching a Decade High

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Whooping cough, or pertussis, has seen a significant resurgence in the United States, with the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicating no signs of slowing down. As of mid-December, more than 32,000 cases have been reported this year — a figure six times higher than at the same time last year and the highest since 2014.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness that often starts with mild cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, and a tickly cough. However, after a week or two, a severe coughing fit develops, which can be so intense that it causes vomiting or even broken ribs. These coughing fits are often accompanied by a “whooping” sound as the person struggles to breathe. The cough can persist for weeks or even months, and infected individuals can spread the bacteria for weeks after the cough begins, even if their symptoms are mild enough to go unnoticed.

During the pandemic, cases of whooping cough were significantly reduced due to social distancing measures and precautions taken against Covid-19. However, the CDC notes that whooping cough tends to peak in cycles, and the current surge in cases appears to reflect a return to pre-pandemic patterns. The number of cases has risen sharply in recent months, more than doubling since mid-September. Notably, a quarter of the cases have been reported in the Midwest, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, with Pennsylvania leading all states in reported cases.

While pertussis can be serious for people of all ages, it is particularly dangerous for infants under 1 year old, whose immune systems are still developing. Babies who haven’t yet received their full vaccination schedule are especially vulnerable. Vaccination is the best defense against the disease, with the CDC recommending the DTaP vaccine for children and the TDaP vaccine for adolescents and adults.

Unfortunately, vaccination rates have fallen. For the 2023-2024 school year, only about 92% of kindergartners received the DTaP vaccine, which is below the 95% federal target. This leaves thousands of schoolchildren unprotected, and the immunity provided by the vaccine can also wane over time, making individuals more susceptible to infection.

Antibiotics can effectively treat whooping cough if administered within the first few weeks of infection, before the severe coughing stage sets in. After that, the only treatment options focus on comfort care, including rest and fluids, while the infection runs its course.

As the U.S. enters the winter season, respiratory illnesses like Covid-19 and the flu are starting to rise, though overall respiratory illness activity remains moderate.

 

McConnell Urges Trump Nominees to Avoid Undermining Polio Vaccine Amid Kennedy’s Controversial Stance

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Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor, has issued a strong warning to President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees, advising them to “steer clear” of efforts to undermine the polio vaccine. McConnell, who contracted polio at the age of two and survived due to modern medicine, emphasized that questioning the effectiveness of established vaccines, like the polio vaccine, is not only “uninformed” but “dangerous.”

This statement came in response to concerns about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee for Health Secretary, who has a history of opposing mainstream vaccination policies. Kennedy has long propagated the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism and has been linked to a controversial petition filed by one of his advisors. The petition, reportedly submitted in 2022, sought to revoke the approval of the polio vaccine, a move that McConnell and others argue could undermine public health.

Kennedy’s team, however, clarified that while Kennedy supports the availability of the polio vaccine, he believes it should undergo thorough studies. Kennedy’s nomination has drawn alarm from public health officials who fear his stance on vaccines could undo critical public health advances. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy’s nonprofit, Children’s Health Defense, opposed the use of COVID-19 vaccines, echoing his broader anti-vaccine agenda.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also criticized the reported petition, calling it “outrageous and dangerous” to suggest revoking the polio vaccine, which has played a key role in nearly eradicating polio in the U.S. Schumer urged Kennedy to clarify his position, as such actions could seriously endanger public health progress.

Kennedy, whose views on vaccines and public health have made him a controversial figure, has also made other inflammatory remarks, including conspiracies about the origins of COVID-19 and comparisons of vaccine mandates to the Holocaust. His nomination continues to face opposition from those who fear that his leadership could roll back life-saving health policies.

 

Al Pacino Reveals He Nearly Died of COVID-19 and Shares His Thoughts on the Afterlife

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Al Pacino recently disclosed that he nearly died after contracting COVID-19 in 2020 and reflected on his near-death experience, offering insights into his thoughts on the afterlife. The 84-year-old Oscar-winning actor opened up in interviews with The New York Times and People magazine, sharing the harrowing details of his brush with death.

In a candid conversation with The Times, Pacino recalled feeling “unusually not good” after developing a fever and severe dehydration. He then described the moment when his pulse vanished. “I was sitting there in my house, and I was gone. I didn’t have a pulse,” Pacino recounted. He said that he briefly lost all sensation and memory, describing the experience as a “strange porridge” of nothingness.

Pacino was quickly revived when paramedics arrived at his home. He recalled the surreal moment when he opened his eyes to find six paramedics and two doctors surrounding him, wearing full protective gear. “It was kind of shocking,” he said, adding that they confirmed his revival by stating, “He’s back. He’s here.”

In his interview with People, Pacino recalled waking up feeling confused and unaware of what had transpired. He pondered whether he had actually died, despite everyone around him believing he had passed away. “I thought I experienced death. I might not have,” he admitted, but acknowledged, “I know I made it.”

Pacino credited his “great assistant” for contacting paramedics immediately when his nurse reported that he had no pulse, a move that likely saved his life.

Although the actor survived the ordeal, he confessed that it didn’t change his approach to life. “Not at all,” he told People when asked if the health scare had influenced his lifestyle. However, the event did leave him pondering deeper metaphysical questions about existence and death.

Preparing for his role in an upcoming movie adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear, Pacino reflected on his brief encounter with mortality. He explained that, unlike many who report near-death experiences involving white lights or spiritual visions, he saw nothing. Quoting Hamlet, Pacino said, “‘To be or not to be’; ‘The undiscovered country from whose bourn, no traveler returns.’ And he says two words: ‘no more.’ It was no more.”

Pacino’s near-death experience and his reflections on life, death, and the afterlife are further detailed in his forthcoming autobiography Sonny Boy, set for release on Tuesday.