Monterey County public health officials encourage residents to get whooping cough vaccinations as cases increase.

A rise in cases of pertussis in Monterey County has prompted public health officials to encourage residents to remain up to date on the pertussis vaccinations. Also known as whooping cough, pertussis can be dangerous, especially in young infants. 

Since Jan. 1, the Monterey County Health Department has received reports of 43 cases of pertussis among residents. There were only 11 cases last year during the same time period, according to an announcement from the department on Wednesday, May 20. Only 36 cases were reported in all of 2026.

Those who have contracted pertussis this year range in ages from 3 months to 78 years, with nearly half of cases affecting those between the ages of 5 and 17.

Because newborns are at the highest risk for complications, Monterey County Health Officer and Public Health Director Dr. Edward Moreno is "strongly" encouraging pregnant women to be vaccinated between weeks 27 and 36 of each pregnancy. Immunity is carried through the mother to the infant.

"I also encourage parents to vaccinate their babies on time, which helps babies strengthen their own immunity to pertussis," he said.

Adult healthcare workers and individuals who care for infants should make sure they have received at least one dose of the Tdap vaccine—which covers tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis—to avoid infecting vulnerable individuals. The recommendation by physicians' organizations is to repeat the vaccine every 10 years.

Symptoms of pertussis vary by age. In children it can begin with a cough and runny nose for one to two weeks. The cough will worsen, causing rapid coughing spells that end with a whooping sound. Young infants may have symptoms with no apparent cough, although they can experience episodes where the infant's face turns red or purple, during which time the infant stops breathing.