Whooping cough or pertussis, has been making headlines for its comeback across the United States. As per the recent data, there have been 8,485 reported cases for far this year. This is double the number recorded at the same time last year. The resurgence had already led to the deaths of two infants in Louisiana and a 5-year old child in Washington state over the past six months.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium. It is most dangerous for infants and young children, particularly before they are old enough to receive their first dose of vaccine at two months of age.

Why Are Cases Increasing?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, whooping cough cases dropped due to the increase in the use of masks, social distancing, and other preventive measures. However, it has made a comeback after 2 to 5 years as these preventive measures have decreased.

There is another factor in the increase of cases, it is the decline in vaccine rotes. As per an AP report, kindergarten vaccination coverage dropped last year, and vaccines exemptions reached an all-time high in the United States.

Public health officials worry that growing vaccine hesitancy could further fuel outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like whooping cough.

Pregnant women are also recommended to receive the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine to protect their newborns. Unfortunately, vaccination rates during pregnancy remain suboptimal, leaving many babies vulnerable in their first months of life.

Which States Reported The Highest Cases?

There are certain states that have reported more numbers than others. As of the recent data, Pennsylvania reported 207 cases so far, whereas Michigan has seen an even sharper rise in cases. In 2025, Michigan has reported 516 cases, mostly among children, between ages 5 to 17. Michigan, in the last year, reported 2,081 pertussis cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant women get vaccinated against pertussis. Adults who missed vaccinations earlier in life should also receive a dose to ensure protection.

How Does It Affect Your Body?

According to the CDC, Bordetella pertussis bacteria attach to the cilia (small hair-like structures) lining parts of the upper respiratory tract. The bacteria release toxins that damage the cilia and cause swelling, leading to severe coughing fits.

Symptoms of whooping cough can vary depending on a person’s age and vaccination status. Initial symptoms often resemble a common cold: runny nose, mild cough, and low-grade fever. However, as the disease progresses, patients may experience uncontrollable, violent coughing fits that can make it hard to breathe. The characteristic "whoop" sound often occurs when the patient gasps for air after a coughing fit.

Who Is More At Risk?

Babies under 1 year old are most at risk for severe complications, including pneumonia, seizures, and even death. Individuals with underlying health conditions like asthma or those who are immunocompromised also face a higher risk of serious illness.

How It Spreads And How Can It Be Prevented?

Whooping cough spreads easily through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. People can remain contagious for at least two weeks after symptoms begin. Some individuals may only have mild symptoms yet can still unknowingly transmit the bacteria to vulnerable groups like infants.

The best way to prevent whooping cough is vaccination. Practicing good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes, can also help limit the spread. In some cases, preventive antibiotics (post-exposure prophylaxis) may be recommended for those who have been in close contact with an infected person.

India’s top health research body has suggested that new antibiotics launched in the country should only be made available through select hospital pharmacies. The advice comes amid rising fears of misuse, overuse, and growing resistance to even the most critical ‘last-resort’ antibiotics.

In a recent paper published in the Journal of Global Health, ICMR’s antimicrobial resistance (AMR) division, along with other researchers, warned that while new antimicrobials bring hope, past experience shows resistance often develops quickly.

What is antimicrobial resistance?

ICMR’s surveillance data paints a worrying picture. Klebsiella pneumoniae, a common hospital bug, is now 62.3% resistant to carbapenem (a powerful antibiotic used as a last line of defense). E. coli has also grown tougher, with its resistance to key drugs like imipenem and piperacillin-tazobactam rising sharply in the last six years.

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According to the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) project, between 3 and 10.4 lakh people in India died in 2019 due to bacterial AMR. Six superbugs which are E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae were linked to more than 2.14 lakh deaths that year alone.

Why Misuse Is The Biggest Driver

One area where India has shown stronger regulatory control is tuberculosis treatment, where strict monitoring of drug use has helped maintain effectiveness for longer. Experts say a similar model is needed for all new antibiotics.

ALSO READ: Why 1 In 6 U.S. Parents Are Rejecting Vaccine Recommendations

Why Stricter Rules Are Urgent

1. Access (narrow-spectrum, safer, and cheaper drugs that should be widely available)
2. Watch (higher resistance potential, meant for hospital settings)
3. Reserve (last-resort drugs for severe, multi-drug resistant infections)

In India, antimicrobials have traditionally been available through retail pharmacies and hospital formularies. While this approach makes drugs easily accessible, it does little to prevent misuse. With treatment options for multidrug-resistant infections running out fast, it has become essential to explore every possible way to curb the improper use of newer antibiotics. In this context, ICMR’s new recommendation to restrict sales could prove to be a useful step.

A 47-year-old autorickshaw driver from Royapettah, who had received a full course of vaccination after being bitten by a stray dog in July 2025, died of rabies at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH). He is the 22nd person to succumb to the disease in Tamil Nadu this year.

His death has left experts asking a difficult question, if protocols were followed, why are people still dying? Public health specialists suggest this may not just be a failure of administration, but a sign that India’s long-standing rabies protocol itself needs re-examination.

What Is Rabies?

“Rabies infects mammals, including dogs, cats, livestock and wildlife. It spreads to people through saliva, usually by bites, scratches, or direct contact with mucous membranes such as the eyes, mouth, or open wounds. Once symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal,” explains Dr. Surrinder Kumar, MBBS, General Physician.

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Why Rabies Deaths Still Happen in India?

For those unversed, Rabies immunoglobulin is a medication made up of antibodies against the rabies virus. It is used to prevent rabies following exposure.

According to Dr Surrinder, the main reasons are:

1. Delayed or No Medical Attention: Many victims dismiss dog bites as minor and fail to seek immediate treatment.
2. Lack of Awareness: In rural and semi-urban areas, people often don’t know the importance of post-exposure vaccination.
3. Reliance on Home Remedies: Turmeric, lime, oils, and other traditional remedies are still used, offering no protection.
4. Incomplete Vaccination: Even if treatment begins, many patients drop out midway, making it ineffective.
5. Limited Access to Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG): For severe bites, RIG is essential along with vaccines, but its high cost and patchy availability block timely use.

The Ground Reality of Rabies Treatment

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Alongside immunoglobulin, at least five separate rabies vaccine doses are necessary. These, Dr. Shaswath says, are not without side effects, as “every time people take the vaccine, they get fever.” While cities are able to conduct mass vaccination campaigns, rural areas face significant challenges in this regard.

He further stresses that rabies is not confined to dog bites alone. The virus can also spread from other animals, and in rare cases even from humans, if infected saliva comes in contact with open wounds or mucous membranes. “A bite isn’t always necessary,” he warns.

Dr. Ranjeet Singh, Professor and Head of General Medicine at NIIMS Medical College and Hospital, echoes the same concerns. He emphasises that rabies deaths in India do not reflect a failure of the vaccine itself. Instead, the main reasons are late treatment, lack of awareness, incomplete vaccination, shortage of immunoglobulin, and limited access in rural areas.

Is India’s Rabies Vaccination System Flawed?

India follows the WHO-approved five-dose rabies vaccine protocol, with immunoglobulin recommended for severe (Category III) bites. But the bigger question, they say, is whether the protocol assumes ideal conditions, which is immediate wound washing, uninterrupted cold chain storage, and trained professionals administering injections at the wound site. In reality, these conditions are not always met.

Common Mistakes After a Dog Bite Which Can Lead To Rabies

1. Not washing the wound immediately: The first step after a bite is washing with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. Most skip it.
2. Covering the wound too soon: Tying cloth or applying bandages traps the virus inside.
3. Applying irritants: Substances like chili, lime, or ash worsen the wound and delay treatment.
4. Ignoring minor bites or scratches: Even tiny wounds can transmit rabies if saliva enters.
5. Stopping the vaccine midway: Completing the full course is essential; partial doses give no real protection.

To end rabies deaths in India, awareness must go hand in hand with medical access. Every bite, no matter how small, needs immediate action: wash, vaccinate, and if severe, take immunoglobulin.

“Rabies is 100% preventable but 100% fatal if ignored. No bite should ever be taken lightly. The key is simple, wash, vaccinate, and complete the course,” concludes Dr. Surrinder Kumar.

Sometimes a simple headache can derail your entire day. It slows down your work, causes you issues etc. When that happens, the easiest way to get rid of it is by taking medicine. However, did you know, you may be able to avoid taking the medicine by doing a simple check before?

Sometimes, the cause isn't a lack of medicine—it's a lack of hydration. Dehydration is a very common cause of headaches, and it's often overlooked. In a post, Suzanne Soliman, a US board certified pharmacist, explained that your headache may be a simple issue, that may not need medicine. Before you grab a pain reliever, try this simple trick: Drink a full glass of water with a small pinch of salt. The salt helps your body absorb the water better.

But how does salt water help you get rid of headaches? Is there medical backing to this or is it a placebo trick that helps some people?

Can Salt Water Treat a Migraine?

For some people, drinking salt water can help relieve a migraine, but it depends on the cause. Here are a couple of reasons why it might work:

You're dehydrated

If you've been sweating a lot, you lose both water and salt. Rehydrating with a glass of water and a pinch of salt can restore your body's balance and ease the headache.

You're on a low-salt diet

Several studies, like a 2021 study published in the Medical Science journal, suggest that if your body is used to a high-salt diet (like the average American diet), suddenly reducing your sodium intake can trigger a "withdrawal" headache. In this case, eating or drinking something salty might help.

However, the evidence isn't clear, and drinking too much salt water can make you feel sick. If you want to try this, only add a tiny pinch of salt to a full glass of water. A better way to get more salt might be through salty snacks or a sports drink with electrolytes.,

Can Eating Salt Prevent or Worsen a Migraine?

There's a complex link between salt and migraines. Some people who eat a lot of salt regularly report fewer migraine symptoms, possibly because their bodies are used to a high-sodium diet.

According to the 2021 study, the relief people feel when they eat salty foods during a migraine isn't a cure, but rather a temporary relief from withdrawal symptoms. This might help explain why some studies have found that people who eat more salt tend to have fewer migraines—their bodies are simply getting the high amount of salt they're used to.

Can Too Much Salt Trigger Migraine?

On the other hand, consuming too much salt can also be a migraine trigger. Eating too much salt can increase your blood pressure, which is a known cause of headaches and migraines. Studies have shown that for some people, a high-salt diet can actually make a migraine episode last longer.

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A 2023 study published in JAMA included 213 people with a median age of 61. The group was 65% female and 64% Black. Each person followed three different diets: their usual diet, a high-salt diet, and a low-salt diet.

If your headaches are related to high blood pressure, a low-salt diet may be more beneficial

Salt's effect on migraines is different for everyone. It might help if your headache is caused by dehydration or a sudden drop in sodium, but it could also trigger a migraine or make it worse if you have high blood pressure or are sensitive to salt. Always talk to your doctor to figure out what's best for you and your symptoms.

Salt's effect on migraines is different for everyone. It might help if your headache is caused by dehydration or a sudden drop in sodium, but it could also trigger a migraine or make it worse if you have high blood pressure or are sensitive to salt. Always talk to your doctor to figure out what's best for you and your symptoms.