Very Contagious Disease At Highest Levels In Illinois Since 2012

It's the time of the year for everyone to get sick but there's a unique problem this time.

A lot of us didn't pay much attention to CDC stats and case counts until the great 'vid of 2020 and now, the idea of a widespread illness isn't unrealistically far off our radars.

Numbers are rolling in from disease cases over 2024 and Illinois is one state that's part of an increasing, ongoing outbreak: whooping cough. Which can get super painful.

The Stats

Illinois reports over 1,900 confirmed whooping cough cases, the most being in October with 408 cases in the month alone. The year's total so far, according to preliminary data, is the highest number of whooping cough cases in the state since 2012. At a Chicago high school, multiple cases were reported within one week earlier this month.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has sent out 3 health alerts recently about the rise in Pertussis (whooping cough) cases. Kids have to have the vaccine to go to school and adults are recommended to get the vaccine too if you don't already have it.

The rise in whooping cough cases isn't specific to just Illinois, it's a national trend. According to the CDC, in December 2024, six times more pertussis cases have been reported as compared to this time last year.

The Symptoms

Whooping cough is very accurately named. Symptoms include:

• Runny/stuffy nose
• A lot of coughing (obviously)
• Low grade fever

The CDC also says that even if you got the vaccine, you could still contract it, you're just less likely to. If you do get whooping cough, you're recommended to do all of the normal sickness recovery stuff: antibiotics, rest, drink fluids, use a humidifier, and cover your cough.