Cases of This Deadly Disease Have Skyrocketed in Michigan

It's that time of year. The time of year where coughs and sneezes run rampant, and so do the germs that go with it.

It seems like every third person I know is sick with something. And let's not forget that kids are basically walking, talking germ factories.

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With that in mind, you should be aware of a disease that's making its way through Michigan.

Sure, you've got your common cold and flu, and we can't forget about Covid too. However, I'm not talking about these everyday sicknesses. I'm talking about a deadly disease.

Whooping Cough Cases on the Rise in Michigan

Pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, is running rampant throughout Michigan.

According to Bridge Michigan, the number of cases in 2024 was 14 times higher than the number of cases just the year before. They went up from 110 in 2023 to 1,578 (as of December 8th, 2024). And there's still more time left in the year.

What is Whooping Cough?

Whooping cough is a deadly, yet preventable, disease. It's caused by a bacteria "which attaches to the lining of the upper respiratory system and releases toxins, causing the airways to swell and other damage."

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The symptoms present themselves as mild cold-like symptoms at first, "but progresses to severe coughing fits that can last for weeks or months. It can be deadly, particularly to infants. Over half of infants who contract pertussis require hospitalization."

It's important to keep our little ones safe, and one of the ways you can do that is to get vaccinated.