California is experiencing an increase in cases of whooping cough (also known as pertussis), a highly contagious bacterial disease that can be spread though coughing and can cause severe illness, especially in infants.

The CDC said that cases of whooping cause increased across the United States, which indicated a return to more typical pre-COVID pandemic trends.

Rates of whooping cough in the U.S. continue to climb, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Over 32,000 cases reported have been reported as of mid-December -- about six times more than there were at this time last year,

Via CNN - It’s a respiratory illness that may start out like a cold, but the cough that accompanies pertussis can last for weeks or months