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Whooping Cough Cases Rise Nationwide, Hit 15-Year High in Arkansas

Cases of the respiratory illness continue to surge across the United States, with 13 deaths reported this year.
Whooping Cough Cases Rise Nationwide, Hit 15-Year High in Arkansas
A nurse gives a whooping cough vaccination to a student at Inderkum High School in Sacramento, Calif., on Sept. 19, 2011. Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo
Jill McLaughlin
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Whooping cough cases in Arkansas reached a 15-year high in 2025 as more than 500 cases were confirmed as of Tuesday, state health officials reported.

Cases of the illness, also known also as pertussis, have been identified in many areas around the state, with over 50 counties reporting at least one case this year, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.

Jill McLaughlin
Jill McLaughlin
Author
Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.