Epidemiological Update Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in the Americas Region - 25 March 2026

According to the latest data published by the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, 941,582 cases of pertussis were reported in 2024, representing a 5.8-fold increase compared to the number of cases reported in 2023 (n= 163,388 cases). The highest proportion of cases was recorded in the WHO regions of the Western Pacific (n= 593,659 cases) and Europe (n= 298,612 cases).

In the Americas Region, there was a gradual decline in the number of cases reported annually between 2015 and 2019, and again in 2021–2022, when the number reached its lowest point at 3,284 cases. Subsequently, a significant increase in cases was recorded between 2023 (n= 11,202 cases) and 2024 (n= 66,184 cases), with a moderate decline during 2025 (n= 46,870 cases).