Health officials in Wyoming are raising concerns over the increasing spread of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, in the state this year, Yellowstone Public Radio reports.
According to a recent Wyoming Health Department (WHD) news release, there have been 30 confirmed cases of whooping cough in 2025 so far. Clay Van Houten, manager of WHD’s infectious disease epidemiology unit, noted that two-thirds of the cases have been reported in Sheridan County, with additional cases spread across eight other counties.
However, officials believe the actual number of cases is likely higher than reported, as many infections go unrecognized or are not officially recorded.
Whooping cough often starts with cold-like symptoms, including a mild cough, making it difficult to diagnose in its early stages. The illness later progresses to severe coughing fits, sometimes accompanied by a distinctive “whooping” sound, particularly in infants and young children.
Van Houten reported a sharp increase in cases compared to previous years. Wyoming had only 19 reported cases in 2024 and zero cases in 2023. The current outbreak began in late 2024 and has continued into the early months of 2025.
