Health officials are worried because there are more cases of whooping cough.

Whooping cough cases are at their highest point in ten years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this rise was expected.

Experts say whooping cough cases usually go up every three to five years. The recent increase brings case numbers back to levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic.

Whooping cough often starts with symptoms like a runny nose, similar to a cold. The illness then causes a cough that can last for a very long time.

A vaccine for whooping cough was introduced in the 1950s, and it is now part of regular childhood vaccinations. Doctors suggest adults get the vaccine, which protects against other illnesses too, every ten years.

Whooping cough is most common in babies and young children, but this year, older kids and teenagers are also getting sick. Doctors say it’s important to get tested and treated early with antibiotics if you think you might have whooping cough.