As families gather for the holidays, health experts are urging extra caution around whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory illness that continues to circulate in many parts of the country.
While national data show some fluctuation, local outbreaks and rising case counts in recent weeks signal that pertussis has not gone away — and holiday get-togethers may create the perfect conditions for it to spread, especially between children and older adults.
A warning from doctors
In West Virginia, confirmed cases of whooping cough have climbed to levels not seen since 2010, according to the state’s Bureau for Public Health. Physicians at West Virginia University say the trend is concerning — and familiar.
“Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, which spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or even talks,” said Dr. Matt Lokant, assistant professor of infectious diseases at WVU School of Medicine. “People in close contact, sharing spaces like houses or enclosed areas, are at higher risk.”
That includes holiday gatherings where grandparents, grandchildren, and extended family spend long hours together indoors.
Why seniors should pay attention
Older adults are not the group most likely to be hospitalized — but they can play a critical role in transmission.
Doctors say people without up-to-date boosters, those with weakened immune systems, pregnant people, and infants under 12 months face the highest risk of complications.
“The early symptoms often look like a common cold — runny nose, mild cough, maybe a low fever,” Dr. Lokant explained. “After one to two weeks, the cough can worsen into severe coughing fits that may cause vomiting or difficulty breathing.”
Those early, mild symptoms are exactly why the illness spreads so easily.
The risk to babies
Infants are the most vulnerable, according to Dr. Lisa Costello, associate professor of pediatrics at WVU School of Medicine.
“Pertussis can interrupt breathing or cause pauses in breathing, known as apnea, in infants,” she said. “That can lead to low oxygen levels and, in severe cases, pneumonia, seizures, brain inflammation — even death.”
Because babies often catch pertussis from adults with mild symptoms, seniors visiting newborns or young grandchildren should be especially cautious.
What seniors can do right now
Doctors stress that prevention doesn’t require panic — just awareness.
- Stay home if you have cold-like symptoms, especially before seeing infants
- Wash hands often and cover coughs
- Wear a mask if you’re symptomatic and must be in public
- Seek medical care for severe coughing fits, breathing trouble, vomiting with cough, or known exposure
- Check your Tdap booster status — immunity from childhood vaccines fades over time
“Staying up to date on immunizations is the safest way to protect against pertussis,” Dr. Costello said. “Getting vaccinated and treating whooping cough early protects you and the most vulnerable.”
A holiday reminder
For seniors, the holidays often mean hugs, shared meals, and time with children — moments worth protecting.
Being cautious doesn’t mean staying away. It means listening to your body, acting early, and helping keep everyone at the table healthy.
