The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has reported a discernible uptick in pertussis cases, also known as whooping cough, propelling public health officials to encourage vaccinations. The state has confirmed or deemed probable, as many as 830 cases of pertussis this year as of October 28. This represents a significant jump from previous years: between 2017 and 2019, the average was around 596 cases annually, as CBS News Detroit reported.

This communicable disease presents early symptoms similar to those of the common cold, which can appear five to 10 days post-exposure, sometimes longer. Later, the disease manifests through intense coughing fits. Health officials are particularly concerned about infants and young children, who may exhibit atypical symptoms such as pauses in breathing instead of coughing. This can cause their skin to turn a bluish color or lead to bouts of shortness of breath, according to WNEM.

Statistics reveal that the median age of pertussis cases is 13, with approximately 75% of the infections occurring in individuals under 18, a detail provided by Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive, to WZZM 13. Dr. Bagdasarian has stressed the importance of vaccination: "Vaccinations continue to be our top line of defense against the spread of pertussis," she said. She pointed to the correlation between declining immunization rates and the surge in whooping cough cases statewide.

Pertussis can lead to severe illness across all age groups and is particularly dangerous, and potentially fatal, for infants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the pertussis vaccine for infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant individuals, and also advises adults who haven't received a dose in childhood or adulthood to get vaccinated, the MDHHS underscored. Despite the clear recommendations, there's a troubling shortfall in vaccination uptake; while 82.9% of children receive their first DTaP dose by three months old, only 65.6% have the four recommended doses by 19 months, signaling a critical gap in preventative measures.