Cases of pertussis, otherwise known as whooping cough, are on the rise in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC says that the number of cases is five times higher than it was last year.

“That's even before we really enter respiratory virus season,” says Dr. Donald Dumford, infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic. “I think that we're gonna see even more cases as we go forward."

Dumford says there are many more whooping cough cases years ago before the development of a vaccine. But he says that this year’s number of cases is more in line with pre-pandemic levels.

Dumford says that this is a concern for those who are most vulnerable to the illness like young children and the elderly.

“About a third of infants will get hospitalized and actually about 1% of infants that develop whooping cough will actually die from the infection,” he says.

The CDC says early symptoms of pertussis can mimic a common cold. One to two weeks after those symptoms start, there can be rapid, violent and uncontrolled coughing fits that can make it hard for a person to breathe. This can last up to 10 weeks.

“They get blue in the face, and then there’s a very sharp intake of air that can cause this ‘whoop,’” Dumford says.

Dumford says the best protection against whooping cough is vaccination. It's typically given to young children, but he says it's recommended for adults who haven't received it - along with boosters.