Whooping cough, a condition once thought to be brought under control in the world today, is staging a nasty and unexpected resurgence. According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. has recorded 8,077 cases of whooping cough in 2025 so far—more than double the 3,847 cases reported during the same period in 2024. This resurgence is not just a public health concern; it’s a stark reminder of what happens when vaccination rates drop and surveillance systems weaken.

Also known as pertussis, whooping cough is an extremely contagious bacterial disease that is transmitted by respiratory droplets and can happen to individuals of any age. Nevertheless, it is most dangerous to newborns and those who are not vaccinated. Sadly, just within the past six months, five children, including two infants in Louisiana, have passed away due to the complications of the illness.

The recent surge is not an isolated phenomenon. It has come on the heels of a concerning trend observed among other vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as measles. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, childhood vaccination levels plummeted. According to the CDC, in 2023–2024, a mere 92.3% of kindergartners received the complete vaccination against pertussis, compared to 94.9% in 2019–2020. Vaccine exemptions—both medical and non-medical—increased by 37% during the same time frame.

This reduction in coverage has undermined what public health professionals refer to as "herd immunity," placing vulnerable groups such as newborns and immunocompromised individuals at high risk. And because immunity from the DTaP or TDaP vaccine wanes over time, adolescents and adults can unwittingly act as carriers of the disease, transmitting it to unvaccinated infants.

Is Whooping Cough Deadly?

Yes, whooping cough can be deadly—especially for the youngest and most vulnerable. While many people recover without complications, the disease poses a serious risk for infants under six months of age. Their immune systems are still developing, and their airways are smaller, making them particularly vulnerable to severe outcomes.

According to the Mayo Clinic, complications such as pneumonia, apnea (pauses in breathing), seizures, and even brain damage can occur in infants who contract the illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also emphasizes that babies and young children are at the highest risk of life-threatening complications, including death.

Who's Most at Risk?

Although pertussis may produce a lingering, annoying cough in adults, the outcome in infants and young children is considerably more severe. The Mayo Clinic and CDC report that babies aged less than 6 months are at greatest risk for serious complications and death. Their immature respiratory systems are more likely to be affected by pneumonia, seizures, apnea (stoppage of breathing), brain damage, and even death.

Most alarming is the reality that the illness can fail to manifest with the traditional "whoop" noise in babies. Rather, it can appear as feeding difficulty or sudden cessation of breathing—symptoms that are easily mistaken for something else until they become fatal.

Identifying the Symptoms of Whooping Cough

Whooping cough typically copies the common cold initially—sneezing, mild cough, and low-grade fever. Within one to three weeks, though, the symptoms worsen. The defining symptom is a violent, intractable cough followed by a sudden gasping breath that produces the characteristic "whooping" sound. Coughing spasms followed by vomiting are also typical.

Diagnosis is usually established through laboratory testing of throat or nasal mucus, or through blood tests to determine the presence of antibodies.

Is It Just a Bad Cough or Something More?

Pertussis is caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria and is highly contagious respiratory illness. The CDC believes that 80% of non-immune individuals will become infected if exposed. The bacteria bind to the cilia (microscopic hairs) of the upper respiratory tract and then release toxins that destroy the lining and lead to inflammation.

One of the major challenges is that individuals are most infectious in the initial phases of illness, usually before they even realize that they have pertussis. This makes the necessity of timely diagnosis and early isolation very crucial.

How Can You Prevent Whooping Cough?

The best protection against whooping cough is with timely vaccination. Babies are given a course of DTaP shots from two months of age, and booster shots throughout early childhood. After children are age 11, they begin to take the TDaP vaccine, which covers tetanus and diphtheria as well.

Most importantly, pregnant women should get a TDaP booster between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. It enables the transfer of protective antibodies to the baby prior to birth, affording important protection during the first months of life when the infant is most susceptible.

Keep sick children at home. If your child is diagnosed with pertussis, they should remain isolated until at least five days of antibiotic treatment have been completed.

Inform and protect household contacts. Anyone living with an infected person should consult a healthcare provider about preventive antibiotic treatment.

Practice mask-wearing. If you’ve been exposed to pertussis or are awaiting test results, wearing a mask around others can help prevent further transmission.

Promote vaccine catch-ups. Parents can make sure children are up to date on all vaccinations and speak with pediatricians regarding any doses that were missed.

Educate your community. Local outreach and awareness campaigns can assist in rebuilding trust in vaccines and emphasizing the importance of community protection.

In adolescence, it is common to have skin problems due to the sudden influx of hormones. Your skin turns bumpy and red due to pimples and white heads. Acne occurs when the hair follicles in the affected area get clogged with oil and dead skin cells. A lot of people believe that people who have acne just need to wash their face properly. While hygiene is an essential part of skin care, acne can occur due to many factors like bacteria trapped in clogged pores that can cause inflammation, stress, medication etc.

While it is more commonly associated with teens, these can carry into adulthood as well. While adult acne is common, researchers have found a concerning link between it and eating disorders. The study found that people with adult acne are 2.4 more likely to have an eating disorder.

The Link Between Acne and Eating Disorders Explained

The research team, whose work was published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, found a difference in the likelihood of having acne depending upon their eating disorders. They disocvered that adult participants who had acne were about two and a half times more likely to also have an eating disorder compared to adults who did not have acne. The study looked closely at their information to see this higher chance, and it suggests that people with acne might be more at risk for eating problems. This is something that doctors should pay attention to.

How Can Acne Affect Eating Habits?

The researchers noted that the increased risk of an eating disorder linked to acne remained even after the researchers took into account other things that could potentially influence eating habits. Things like whether there is a history of mood disorders like depression or anxiety, or pre-existing concerns about body image.

After closely observing these points, the researchers suggested that acne itself might play a more direct role in increasing someone's susceptibility to an eating disorder. Even after considering these things, having acne on its own still made it about 65% more likely that someone would have an eating problem. This means that acne itself might play a role in making someone more likely to develop unhealthy eating habits as an adult.

How Was This Study Done?

For their research, the team studied almost 7,400 grown-ups who had been told they had acne. Then, they compared this group to a much bigger group of over 207,000 grown-ups who did not have acne. By looking at both groups and comparing them, the scientists could see if there were more eating problems in the group that had acne. This big comparison helped them find a strong link between having acne and being more likely to also have an eating problem as an adult.

What they found shows that having acne can really be something that makes it more likely for grown-ups to have eating problems. They think that if someone is already worried about things, having acne might make them worry even more about how they look. This could lead to thinking too much about their body and doing unhealthy things with food, like not eating enough.

Experts explain that the study only looked at grown-ups, and he thinks it would be good to study kids and teenagers too, since they often get acne and can also have eating problems. He really wants anyone who thinks they might have an eating problem to get help from a doctor, even if they don't have acne.

Health experts are raising alarms as H5N1 bird flu spreads rapidly across US dairy farms. Since March 2024, over 1,000 dairy herds have been affected across the country, leading to over 70 infections and at least one confirmed death. H5N1 is a strain of the influenza virus that primarily infects birds, but can also infect humans.

Global Virus Network (GVN) warns that a continued presence of this virus in mammals increases the risk of mutations that could be human-to-human transmission. They emphasise the urgency of the enhanced surveillance, standardising testing and vaccination strategies for both animals and farmworkers. "Understanding the current landscape of H5N1 infections is critical for effective prevention and response," said Sten H Vermund, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of the GVN and dean of the USF Health College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, USA. "The virus's ability to infect both animals and humans, combined with recent genetic changes, underscores the importance of proactive surveillance and rapid response measures," he added.

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CDC Asks Residents To Follow Precautions

Despite the outbreak, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the risk to the general public remains low.

However, they stress the importance of precautions, especially for those in close contact with infected animals. As per the CDC, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu is widespread in birds and is causing outbreaks in poultry and US dairy cows. While the current public health risk is low, the CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures. CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5 bird flu activity in people.

What To Do To Protect Yourself

• As a general precaution, whenever possible, people should avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, dairy cows and other animals and observe them only from a distance.
• If you must have direct/close contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, or other animals, wear recommended personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Do not touch surfaces or materials (e.g., animal litter or bedding material) contaminated with saliva, mucus, or animal feces from wild or domestic birds, dairy cows, or other animals with confirmed or suspected avian influenza A virus infection.
• Do not touch or consume raw milk or raw milk products, especially from animals with confirmed or suspected avian influenza A virus infection or in areas known to have infected herds.

What Do You Do When You Find A Dead Animal Or Bird?

• If you find a sick or dead wild bird or other animal
• First, check with your local and State governments about their policies for collecting dead and testing sick or dead animals.
• You can contact health departments or state wildlife agencies for information about reporting animals that look sick or dead in your area.
• People should avoid unprotected (not using respiratory and eye protection) exposures to sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or domesticated animals.
• Wildlife agencies regularly investigate reports of sick or dead animals. This type of reporting could help with the early detection of illnesses like West Nile virus or H5N1 bird flu.
• If local authorities tell you to throw away the bird's carcass (body), don't touch it with your bare hands. Use gloves or a plastic bag turned inside out to place the body in a garbage bag, which can then be thrown away in your regular trash.

A new generation of oral weight loss medications could transform the fight against obesity and diabetes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), health experts say. In almost all high-income countries like the UK, injectable drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, containing semaglutide and tirzepatide, respectively, have proven highly effective. These medications not only aid in losing more than 10% of body weight but also help manage type 2 diabetes. However, their high cost, need for refrigeration, and injectable format have limited their accessibility in resource-limited settings.

Now, researchers believe that oral medications under development could be a game-changer. These pills are expected to be cheaper, easier to transport, and not require refrigeration, making them far more practical in LMICs where obesity and diabetes are rising rapidly.

"Medicines that reduce diabetes and heart disease risk—while also helping with weight loss—could offer significant benefits in countries where waistlines are expanding fast,” said Professor Naveed Sattar, a cardiometabolic medicine expert at the University of Glasgow.

Dr Louis Aronne, an obesity medicine specialist at Weill Cornell Medical College, echoed the optimism. “We’re moving towards a future where doctors will treat obesity before it leads to complications,” he said. His recent research showed that tirzepatide reduced the risk of developing diabetes by more than 90% in people with pre-diabetes and obesity over a three-year period.

One oral drug gaining attention is orforglipron, a once-daily pill developed by Eli Lilly. Like semaglutide, orforglipron mimics GLP-1, a hormone that boosts insulin production and helps people feel full longer. A recent 40-week clinical trial found that orforglipron lowered blood sugar levels and promoted weight loss on par with injectable semaglutide.

While semaglutide is already available in pill form, it requires a higher dose to match the injectable version's results. It must also be taken on an empty stomach, with no food for at least 30 minutes afterward. Orforglipron, being a small molecule, resists digestion and can be taken with food—potentially at a lower dose and cost.

Experts caution that more studies are needed. Orforglipron’s safety profile must be thoroughly evaluated, especially after Pfizer halted development of a similar drug due to potential liver toxicity. It’s also not yet clear if orforglipron reduces cardiovascular risks like heart attacks and strokes, benefits that have been observed with semaglutide.

Nevertheless, scientists are hopeful. “Once obesity is established, diet alone isn’t enough for most people,” said Aronne. “Medication becomes essential, especially since obesity alters brain function related to appetite and metabolism.”

Addressing obesity is especially urgent in ethnically diverse populations. “South Asians, Black individuals, and other groups develop type 2 diabetes at lower weight thresholds," Sattar noted. “Even small increases in obesity in these populations can lead to significant surges in diabetes rates.”

Sattar concluded, "The more safe, effective, and affordable weight loss medications we have—especially in oral form—the better the chances of improving global health."