Whooping Cough Cases Continue to Rise in Lancaster County

Published on February 27, 2025

Health Department recommends people stay current on vaccinations

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) today announced cases of whooping cough continue to increase in Lancaster County. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious illness marked by severe coughing.

“Whooping cough is another disease that we monitor very closely and we’ve seen a further uptick in cases in January and so far in February. We recommend people contact their health care provider if they have symptoms and stay current on whooping cough vaccine,” said Kerry Kernen, Health Director.

Whooping cough cases in Lancaster County are as follows:

2025                                                   

February       29 (to date)

January        25                        

2024

December     17

November     20

October        21         

September    4

With the rise in whooping cough cases locally, providers continue to test for the disease. As more people develop symptoms and get tested, the Health Department continues to identify more cases in our community. Whooping cough cases have also increased in Nebraska and nationwide, according to public health data.

Whooping cough is spread through close contact when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Whooping cough can affect people of all ages but is most common in infants and young children and can be life-threatening especially for babies under a year old.

Early symptoms can look like a common cold – runny and or stuffy nose, low-grade fever and mild cough. Later symptoms include rapid, violent and uncontrolled coughing fits that can make it hard to breathe. Severe coughing fits also can include a high-pitched “whoop” sound, which is where the term “whooping” cough comes from.

Whooping cough vaccine is the best way to protect against the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend whooping cough vaccine for everyone.

Whooping Cough Vaccination for Children

Children are vaccinated against whooping cough as part of a five-vaccine series. They usually receive doses at 2, 4 and 6 months old. A fourth dose is given when a child is 15 to 18 months old and then the fifth dose is received prior to entering school. Nebraska law also requires proof of a whooping cough booster shot before entering seventh grade.

Whooping Cough Vaccination for Adults

If a person hasn’t had pertussis-containing vaccine as an adult, they should receive one dose of the tetanus, diphtheria and Tdap, the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine, followed by a booster every 10 years.

The CDC also recommends that pregnant people get Tdap between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to help protect babies from serious illness until they are old enough to get vaccinated. 

LLCHD offers vaccines at no or low cost to eligible families through its Vaccines for Children Program. The program serves children who are age 18 and younger and one of the following: uninsured or underinsured, enrolled in Medicaid, American Indian or Alaska Native. Call the Health Department for more information and to make an appointment at 402-441-8065.

For more information on whooping cough, visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/.