Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection known for severe coughing fits and a distinctive "whoop" sound.

Cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, in the United States are the highest they have been in a decade -- and Wisconsin continues to see some of the worst numbers in the country.

As of Dec. 14, the U.S. had logged more than 32,000 cases of whooping cough, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's the highest case count since 2014, when cases hit just under 33,000 nationwide.

In Wisconsin, the highly contagious bacterial infection has been spiking since the summer. According to the latest CDC data, Wisconsin continues to see the third-worst outbreak in the country, with only Pennsylvania and New York reporting higher case counts.

Here's the latest on whooping cough in Wisconsin.

How much is whooping cough spreading in Wisconsin?

As of Dec. 20, Wisconsin had logged 2,365 cases of whooping cough statewide, according to the state Department of Health Services. That's compared to 51 cases reported in all of 2023.

However, a DHS official previously told the Journal Sentinel that whooping cough is cyclical, meaning cases could be very high one year, followed by several years of low spread. So far this year, cases are still far lower than the state's last spike in 2012, when it logged 6,880 confirmed and probable cases, according to CDC data.

Here's what else DHS has reported about whooping cough in Wisconsin, as of Dec 20:

Whooping cough symptoms

Whooping cough is also sometimes called the "100-day cough" because symptoms can persist for weeks. Symptoms, according to DHS, include the following:

Who should get a whooping cough vaccine?

In terms of prevention, public health officials have said the best way to avoid contracting whooping cough is to get vaccinated.

Here's a rundown of which vaccines children and adults should get for pertussis, according to the Milwaukee Health Department:

Where can you get a whooping cough vaccine in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin residents can check whether they are up to date on their pertussis and other vaccines by checking the Wisconsin Immunization Registry, and then schedule an appointment with their health care provider, pharmacy or local health department to get up to date on vaccines.

The DHS also provides vaccines free and regardless of insurance status through its Vaccines for Children and Adults programs.