Pertussis in California
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It causes severe coughing fits that can last for weeks or months.
No active Pertussis reports in California right now.
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What is Pertussis?
Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, gets its name from the distinctive 'whooping' sound made when gasping for air after a coughing fit. Before the vaccine was developed, pertussis was a leading cause of childhood death worldwide. Today, it remains a serious threat, especially to infants who are too young to be fully vaccinated.
Symptoms
- Initial cold-like symptoms (runny nose, mild fever)
- Severe, uncontrollable coughing fits
- Whooping sound when gasping for air
- Vomiting after coughing
- Exhaustion after coughing fits
- Apnea (pauses in breathing) in infants
Transmission
Pertussis spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is highly contagious, especially in the first two weeks when symptoms resemble a common cold. Close contact with infected individuals poses the highest risk.
Contagious Period: From early cold-like symptoms through 3 weeks after coughing begins (or 5 days after starting antibiotics)
Prevention
- DTaP vaccine for infants and children (5 doses by age 6)
- Tdap booster for adolescents (age 11-12) and adults
- Tdap during each pregnancy (27-36 weeks) to protect newborns
- Isolation of infected individuals
- Prophylactic antibiotics for close contacts
- Practice respiratory hygiene and handwashing
California Health Resources
Local health department information and state-specific prevention guidance
We're Monitoring California
Our AI-powered surveillance continuously monitors Pertussis activity across California. We track data from state health departments, local hospitals, CDC reports, and 50+ global health sources to provide early warning of emerging threats.
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California Health Department
For official state health alerts, vaccination locations, and public health guidance specific to California, visit your state health department's website.
Understanding Pertussis: Key Questions
Whether you live in California or are traveling there, knowing the symptoms, timeline, and when to seek care helps you act quickly if exposure occurs.
When to Seek Care
Seek care if you experience severe dehydration, bloody stools, high fever, or symptoms lasting more than 3 days. Children under 5, adults over 65, and immunocompromised individuals should seek care earlier.
Emergency symptoms: Severe dehydration, inability to keep fluids down for 12 or more hours, or neurological symptoms require emergency care.
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Expert Resources & References
Trusted information from leading health organizations
CDC
Official guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
View CDC Resources →WHO
Global disease surveillance and guidelines from the World Health Organization
View WHO Resources →Medically Reviewed Content
Disease information on Virus Watcher is reviewed by our Chief Epidemiologist, a former CDC lead analyst for FluSight forecasting. Outbreak data is aggregated from verified sources including BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-18
Recent Pertussis Reports
No confirmed cases reported in California yet. Here are the latest Pertussis reports from our global surveillance network.
An estimated 13.5 million "zero-dose" children, including 679,000 in India, did not receive a single vaccine in their first year in 2025, according to the annual WHO-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) released on Wednesday. Nigeria topped the chart with 2…
July 15 (Reuters) - Global childhood vaccination rates rose slightly in 2025, yet millions of children remained unprotected against preventable diseases as conflict, funding cuts and growing outbreaks undermined immunization efforts. According to the latest immunization estimate…
Australia experienced an unprecedented surge in pertussis (whooping cough) during 2024–25, with more than 82 000 cases reported, disproportionately affecting children under 14 and concentrated in New South Wales and Queensland. The outbreak reflects a convergence of waning popula…
This event envelope contains reports on pertussis in Guam. *Source: BEACON* - [View Full Report](https://beaconbio.org/en/event/?eventid=5bd064e8-9bd0-428a-988f-02ed49f308f8)
This event envelope contains reports on pertussis in Cameroon. *Source: BEACON* - [View Full Report](https://beaconbio.org/en/event/?eventid=e49f779c-4858-4373-a136-c0cd6c4074c1)
This event envelope contains reports on pertussis in Palau. *Source: BEACON* - [View Full Report](https://beaconbio.org/en/event/?eventid=57271c9b-9539-4117-8055-290c2d1217c2)
Honduras is seeing an increase in pertussis cases and infant deaths, with transmission reported across most health regions. This reflects a wider post-pandemic resurgence of whooping cough throughout the Americas, caused by waning immunity and inadequate vaccination coverage. *S…
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Pertussis answered by our epidemiology team
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