Whooping Cough on the Rise: Causes, Risks & Prevention

Whooping cough may feel like a disease of the past, but recent reports of rising cases are a reminder that it never truly disappeared. Also known as pertussis, whooping cough tends to rise and fall in cycles, and several factors are now contributing to its return — both in Australia and across the Pacific region.

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It spreads easily through coughing, sneezing and close contact, particularly in households, schools and childcare settings.

While it’s often associated with children, whooping cough can affect people of all ages. Babies, young children and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness, but adults can also become infected and spread the disease without realising it.

Why are whooping cough cases increasing again?

Whooping cough cases are rising again globally, including across parts of the Pacific region, where recent outbreaks have prompted public health responses. According to regional health reports, outbreaks have been identified in countries such as Vanuatu, Samoa and Fiji, with cases predominantly affecting unvaccinated or partially vaccinated infants. Health authorities in these regions have responded with increased surveillance, laboratory testing and vaccination efforts to help contain the spread and protect vulnerable communities.

These regional outbreaks matter because infectious diseases do not respect borders. Increased travel and population movement between the Pacific and Australia means changes in disease activity nearby can influence local transmission patterns — particularly when combined with immunity gaps in the population.

In Australia, there isn’t one single reason behind the rise in whooping cough cases — instead, it’s the result of several factors coming together. One key reason is waning immunity. Protection from whooping cough vaccines decreases over time, meaning people who were vaccinated years ago may no longer be fully protected. Immunity gained from a previous infection also fades, which helps explain why reinfections can occur.

Another contributing factor is the disruption to normal exposure patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reduced social interaction, school closures and travel restrictions meant fewer people were exposed to circulating bacteria, limiting natural immune boosting. As normal travel, schooling and social activity resumed, these immunity gaps became more noticeable.

Australian surveillance data reflects this shift. According to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) on CDC Australia’s website, more than 25,000 pertussis (whooping cough) notifications were recorded nationally in 2025, with cases reported across all states and territories. Importantly, the data shows that infections are occurring across multiple age groups, including school-aged children, teenagers and adults — highlighting that whooping cough is not just a childhood illness.

Can you get whooping cough again if you’re vaccinated?

Yes, it is possible to get whooping cough even if you’ve been vaccinated. While vaccination plays a crucial role in protection, it does not provide lifelong immunity, and protection can decrease over time.

Research has shown that immunity from the commonly used acellular pertussis vaccines wanes gradually in the years following vaccination, which helps explain why whooping cough continues to circulate despite high childhood vaccination rates. This decline in protection has been linked to periodic increases in cases, particularly among adolescents and adults, as outlined in studies examining why pertussis continues to resurge globally.

Vaccination remains highly important because it reduces the risk of severe disease and complications, especially in babies and young children. However, people who were vaccinated years earlier may still become infected, often experiencing milder or less typical symptoms. This can make whooping cough harder to recognise and increase the chance of unknowingly passing it on.

Evidence also shows that immunity fades not only after vaccination but after natural infection as well, meaning previous exposure doesn’t guarantee lifelong protection. This ongoing loss of immunity is considered a key reason behind recurring outbreaks and reinforces why booster doses at certain life stages are recommended.

Why adults often don’t realise they have whooping cough

In adults, whooping cough doesn’t always present with the classic “whoop” sound. Instead, it may cause a persistent cough that lasts for weeks or even months, often mistaken for bronchitis or a lingering viral infection.

Read related article: Whooping Cough vs. Bronchitis: How to Tell Them Apart

Because symptoms can be milder, adults may continue daily activities while unknowingly spreading the infection — particularly to infants and vulnerable individuals.

What you can do to help reduce spread

Reducing the spread of whooping cough takes a combination of vaccination, good hygiene and early action, particularly while case numbers are rising.

1. Stay up to date with vaccinations and boosters

Vaccination is the most effective way to protect against severe whooping cough and to reduce the risk of passing it on — especially to babies, who are most vulnerable.

During pregnancy:

A whooping cough vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy, usually between 20 and 32 weeks. This helps pass protective antibodies to the baby, offering protection in the first few months of life before they’re old enough to be vaccinated themselves. If vaccination wasn’t given during pregnancy, it’s recommended as soon as possible after birth.

For babies and young children:

Babies are protected through the routine childhood schedule, with doses given at 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months and 18 months. A further booster is recommended at 4 years of age. Receiving these vaccines on time is especially important, as babies and young children are at higher risk of serious illness.

For adolescents:

A booster dose is recommended in early adolescence (around 11–13 years), often delivered through school-based vaccination programs. This helps boost immunity as protection from early childhood vaccines declines.

For adults:

Immunity continues to decrease over time, so booster doses are recommended every 10 years for certain groups. This includes:

• Parents, grandparents and carers of infants under 6 months
  

• People who work closely with young children, such as childcare and healthcare workers
  

• Adults aged 50 years and over, and again at 65 years and older, if they haven’t had a pertussis-containing vaccine in the past decade

Keeping adult immunity up to date helps reduce the risk of unknowingly passing whooping cough to babies and vulnerable people.

2. Practice good respiratory hygiene

Cover coughs and sneezes, wash hands regularly, and avoid sharing personal items when unwell. These habits help limit the spread of respiratory infections in homes, schools and workplaces.

3. Stay home and seek medical advice if symptoms persist

Whooping cough often starts as a mild cough that lingers. If a cough lasts longer than expected or worsens, seeing a GP can help with diagnosis and guidance. Staying home when unwell — particularly around babies — helps prevent further spread.

4. Use masks in higher-risk situations when unwell

Wearing a mask can reduce the spread of respiratory droplets, especially in crowded or enclosed settings if you have ongoing cough symptoms.

5. Check your vaccination history

If you’re unsure when you last had a whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine, checking your immunisation history is a helpful first step. In Australia, vaccinations are recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), which keeps a record of vaccines given to people of all ages.

Your immunisation history statement lists vaccines received under the National Immunisation Program, most school-based vaccines, and many privately funded vaccines, including those given later in life. These records are often needed for childcare or school enrolments, certain workplaces, or to confirm eligibility for some government payments — but they’re also useful for simply checking whether a booster may be due.

You can access your immunisation history statement online, and find step-by-step instructions on how to check your immunisation history via the Australian Government health website here.

Final thoughts: Why awareness still matters

Whooping cough may be a familiar illness, but rising case numbers show that it remains a current and ongoing public health concern. A combination of waning immunity, missed or delayed vaccinations, increased travel, and outbreaks in neighbouring regions has created conditions where the infection can spread more easily again.

While vaccination continues to play a vital role in protecting against severe disease — especially in babies and young children — awareness, timely boosters and everyday prevention measures are just as important. Recognising symptoms early, staying home when unwell, and keeping vaccination records up to date all help reduce the risk of unknowingly passing whooping cough on to others.

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