The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is investigating two confirmed cases of pertussis (also known as whooping cough) and identified eight probable cases in two separate households without travel-related exposures on Hawaiʻi Island.
Both households have school-age children that attend local schools but are in geographically distinct areas of the island. Currently, no one is hospitalized.
DOH is working with the families and schools to identify close contacts and encourage them to seek medical attention for preventive care as well as testing if symptomatic.
These confirmed cases follow five previous confirmed cases of whooping cough in Oʻahu visitors among a single household in February 2024, which included a child who was hospitalized. The newer cases on Hawaiʻi Island are not connected with the February cluster.
Between 2019-2023, there were 90 confirmed and probable whooping cough cases reported in Hawaiʻi, including 28 cases linked to three outbreaks. The last case prior to the currently reported cases in 2024 occurred in October of 2023.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by bacteria. It can cause severe coughing fits (up to 10 weeks or more), followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound when breathing in. Whooping cough can lead to serious complications, especially in infants, such as pneumonia, dehydration, seizures, and brain damage. Infants may not cough at all. Instead, they may have apnea (life-threatening pauses in breathing) or struggle to breathe.
Individuals are encouraged to see a doctor if they encounter the following symptoms:
- Experiencing a runny nose, fever and coughing violently and rapidly
- Struggling to breathe
- Turning blue or purple
The best way to protect against whooping cough is to stay up to date with recommended whooping cough vaccines.
Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hawai‘i’s 2022-2023 kindergarten coverage rate for DTaP was 87.0% compared to a national average of 92.7%. Compared to the previous year, Hawai‘i had the largest increase in vaccination exemptions.
Individuals diagnosed with whooping cough should take antibiotics as prescribed and avoid contact with others until they are no longer contagious. People can spread the bacteria from the start of the very first symptoms and for at least two weeks after coughing begins.
For more information about pertussis (whooping cough), visit the CDC website.