History of Whooping cough in Timeline

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious and vaccine-preventable bacterial disease characterized by a prolonged and severe coughing illness. Initially resembling a common cold, it progresses to intense coughing fits over two to three months, often followed by a characteristic "whoop" sound during inhalation. The violent coughing can lead to vomiting, rib fractures, and extreme fatigue. Infants may experience breathing difficulties rather than a typical cough. Although vaccination exists, the disease can still occur with milder symptoms. Its incubation period is typically around 7-10 days, and the severe coughing can last for over 10 weeks, giving rise to the term "100-day cough".

1906: Discovery of B. pertussis

In 1906, Jules Bordet and Octave Gengou discovered B. pertussis.

1906: Discovery of the Pertussis Bacterium

In 1906, the bacterium that causes pertussis was discovered.

1912: Development of First Inactivated Vaccine

In 1912, Jules Bordet and Octave Gengou successfully cultured B. pertussis and developed the first inactivated whole-cell vaccine.

1913: Early Vaccines Developed

In 1913, after the discovery of B. pertussis, other researchers continued to develop the early vaccines.

1914: Early Vaccines Developed

In 1914, after the discovery of B. pertussis, other researchers continued to develop the early vaccines.

1925: Wide-Scale Testing of Vaccine

In 1925, Danish physician Thorvald Madsen first tested a whole-cell vaccine on a wide scale to control outbreaks in the Faroe Islands, however, two children died shortly after receiving the vaccine.

1932: Leila Denmark's Study Begins

In 1932, after an outbreak of whooping cough in Atlanta, Georgia, pediatrician Leila Denmark began her study of the disease.

1942: Development of First DTP Vaccine

In 1942, American scientists Grace Eldering, Loney Gordon, and Pearl Kendrick combined the whole-cell pertussis vaccine with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids to generate the first DTP combination vaccine.

1976: Pertussis Incidence Decline

By 1976, the incidence of pertussis in the U.S. fell to approximately 1,000 cases, after the introduction of the DTP combined vaccine in the 1940s.

1981: Use of Acellular Vaccine in Japan

In 1981, Japanese scientist Yuji Sato's acellular pertussis vaccine, consisting of purified haemagglutinins, was used in Japan.

1990: Pertussis Deaths

In 1990, pertussis resulted in 138,000 deaths worldwide.

2002: Vaccine Impact

In 2002, it was estimated that the pertussis vaccine saved half a million lives.

2005: Study on Infection-Acquired Immunity

In 2005, a study indicated that infection-acquired immunity ranges from 7 to 20 years.

2011: CDC Study on Immunity Duration

A 2011 CDC study indicated that immunity from pertussis immunization may only last three to six years.

2014: Whooping cough cases

In 2014, whooping cough cases were at their highest level until 2024, according to the CDC.

2015: Worldwide Infections and Deaths

In 2015, an estimated 16.3 million people worldwide were infected with pertussis, resulting in 58,700 deaths.

2017: Estimated Global Burden of Pertussis

In 2017, a study estimated the global burden of pertussis to be 24 million cases per year with 160,000 deaths among young children.

2018: Global Pertussis Cases Reported

In 2018, more than 151,000 cases of pertussis were reported globally.

2024: Increase in Whooping Cough Cases

According to the 2024 CDC, reports indicate that cases of whooping cough have reached their highest levels since 2014, with over 16,000 cases reported this year.