According to a concerning new report, cases of whooping cough are on the rise in the United States as well as in South Dakota.

Across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows more than 25,000 cases of whooping cough have been reported so far this year. Last year, it was a little over 5,000 cases.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is experiencing a worrying resurgence in the United States. Health experts are urging increased awareness as the number of cases has surged dramatically, surpassing previous yearly averages.

Health officials say the contagious bacterial infection is becoming more prevalent. This time last year, North Carolina only had 83 cases.

Kitsap County rates for whooping declined by 1.9% from pre-pandemic levels. Immunization rates for the MMR vaccine also fell by about 3%. Rates declined in five of the six school districts on the Kitsap Peninsula last year compared to pre-pandemic levels. The largest drops were in Bremerton and Central Kitsap schools.

Here are this morning’s top stories with KELOLAND On the Go. Whooping cough cases in South Dakota are up more than 400 percent over the five year average. According to the State Health Department website 170 cases have been reported so far this year.

Washington state officials warned of a "sharp increase" in whooping cough cases compared to this time last year, mirroring a nationwide trend.

Over 200 cases of whooping cough have been reported in Arkansas this year. That's more than five times the amount of cases from 2023, according to the state health department.

California's cases of whooping cough are more than six times as high as last year, and in Los Angeles County, reports of the infectious disease rose by nearly 119%. It reflects a trend seen across the U.

Whooping cough levels are at their highest since pre-pandemic in California, mirroring similar patterns elsewhere, say scientists.