Arkansas has reported a sharp rise in whooping cough cases in 2025, reaching the highest level seen in more than a decade, according to state health officials.
The Arkansas Department of Health has confirmed 486 cases of the highly contagious respiratory illness this year, up from 38 cases in 2023. The number climbed steadily from 16 cases in 2021 to 391 in 2024.
Dr. Shane Speights, dean of the New York Institute of Technology at Arkansas State University, told Jonesboro media outlet KAIT that declining vaccination rates are driving the increase. He said the state’s pertussis vaccination rate among school-age children has fallen below 88%, well under the 91% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks.
Children and teens from newborns to age 19 accounted for 85% of cases in 2025. Infants face the greatest risk of severe complications, including breathing difficulties. Recent data shows cases have declined in recent weeks, a trend Speights attributes to increased vaccinations.
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