Surveillance and Reporting

Reporting pertussis cases

Pertussis is a nationally notifiable disease and clinicians should notify the appropriate health department of all patients with suspected pertussis. Similarly, diagnostic laboratories should notify health departments of all positive pertussis laboratory results. State health departments then report confirmed and probable pertussis cases to CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).

Surveillance for monitoring epidemiologic trends in disease

Although many pertussis cases are not diagnosed and therefore not reported, NNDSS is useful for monitoring epidemiologic trends in disease over time. The limitations of laboratory diagnostics make the clinical case definition essential to pertussis surveillance. It is important to determine duration of cough — specifically whether it lasts 14 days or longer — in order to determine if a person’s illness meets the definition of a clinical case.

To view the full list of information requested for pertussis case-patients, refer to the national pertussis surveillance worksheek [2 pages].

Pertussis trends in the United States

Reported pertussis incidence by age group: 1990-2021

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This graph shows reported pertussis incidence (per 100,000 persons) by age group in the United States from 1990–2021. Infants aged <1 year, who are at greatest risk for serious disease and death, continue to have the highest reported rate of pertussis. View data for this chart.

Reported NNDS pertussis cases: 1922-2021

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This graph illustrates the number of pertussis cases reported to CDC from 1922 to 2021. Following the introduction of pertussis vaccines in the 1940s when case counts frequently exceeded 100,000 cases per year, reports declined dramatically to fewer than 10,000 by 1965. During the 1980s pertussis reports began increasing gradually, and by 2019 more than 18,000 cases were reported nationwide. View data for this chart.

Enhanced pertussis surveillance

CDC has partnered with seven states (CO, CT, GA, MN, NM, NY, and OR) participating in the Emerging Infections Program network to conduct enhanced pertussis surveillance (EPS) and surveillance on other Bordetella species. EPS sites conduct enhanced case ascertainment and augmented data collection. This additional information goes beyond what CDC receives through NNDSS nationally. Participating sites collect isolates and specimens, when available, for further characterization at the CDC Pertussis and Diphtheria Laboratory. EPS sites also provide the infrastructure for conducting pertussis special studies, including those aimed at evaluating pertussis prevention and control strategies.

Pertussis surveillance reports

View pertussis data, including case counts and incidence by state and age, DTaP vaccination history of cases, and pertussis-related deaths.

Case definition

State health departments report pertussis cases to CDC’s NNDSS using a standardized case definition accepted by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The most recent case definition (2020) for pertussis includes the following information:

Clinical criteria

In the absence of a more likely diagnosis a cough illness lasting ≥2 weeks, with at least one of the following signs or symptoms:

  • Paroxysms of coughing, OR
  • Inspiratory whoop, OR
  • Post-tussive vomiting, OR
  • Apnea (with or without cyanosis)

Laboratory criteria

Confirmatory laboratory evidence:

  • Isolation of Bordetella pertussis from a clinical specimen
  • Positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for B. pertussis

Epidemiologic linkage

Contact with a laboratory-confirmed case of pertussis.

Case classification

Probable:

  • In the absence of a more likely diagnosis, illness meeting the clinical criteria

OR

  • Illness with cough of any duration, with
    • At least one of the following signs or symptoms:
      • Paroxysms of coughing, OR
      • Inspiratory whoop, OR
      • Post-tussive vomiting, OR
      • Apnea (with or without cyanosis)

AND

  • Contact with a laboratory confirmed case (epidemiologic linkage)

Confirmed:

Acute cough illness of any duration with

  • Isolation of B. pertussis from a clinical specimen, OR
  • PCR positive for B. pertussis