The states with the highest rates of pertussis include Vermont, Wisconsin, Alaska and Maine. Pertussis is more commonly known as whooping cough. It is a respiratory disease that causes uncontrollable coughing. Whooping cough is highly contagious, but deaths are rare.
Pertussis vaccination
There are two vaccines in the U.S. that help to prevent pertussis. These are the DTaP, for children under 7 years, and the Tdap, for older children, teens and adults. These vaccines are highly recommended, and a majority of children and teens receive them. In 2017, around 83 percent of children aged 19 to 35 months had received the DTaP vaccine.
Pertussis cases
The number of cases of pertussis in the United States have decreased significantly since the introduction of vaccines that prevent the disease. In 1950, there were around 120,700 new cases of pertussis in the U.S., compared to just under 18,000 new cases in 2016. In that year, there were around 5.56 new cases of pertussis per 100,000 population.
Pertussis rate in the United States as of 2018, by state
(new cases per 100,000 population)
The 2017 ranks are based on 2015 data from the Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report: Summary of Notifiable Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
United Health Foundation. (December 13, 2018). Pertussis rate in the United States as of 2018, by state (new cases per 100,000 population) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/379019/us-pertussis-rate-by-state/
United Health Foundation. "Pertussis rate in the United States as of 2018, by state (new cases per 100,000 population)." Chart. December 13, 2018. Statista. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/379019/us-pertussis-rate-by-state/
United Health Foundation. (2018). Pertussis rate in the United States as of 2018, by state (new cases per 100,000 population). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/379019/us-pertussis-rate-by-state/
United Health Foundation. "Pertussis Rate in The United States as of 2018, by State (New Cases per 100,000 Population)." Statista, Statista Inc., 13 Dec 2018, https://www.statista.com/statistics/379019/us-pertussis-rate-by-state/
United Health Foundation, Pertussis rate in the United States as of 2018, by state (new cases per 100,000 population) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/379019/us-pertussis-rate-by-state/ (last visited August 25, 2024)
Pertussis rate in the United States as of 2018, by state (new cases per 100,000 population) [Graph], United Health Foundation, December 13, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/379019/us-pertussis-rate-by-state/