—ALERT
The Tennessee Department of Health is sharing the attached 2025 Provisional Pertussis Surveillance Report* to inform providers and public health partners about current pertussis data and trends. We urge providers to maintain clinical vigilance for signs of pertussis, promptly test suspected cases, provide timely treatment, and offer post-exposure prophylaxis to all household members of confirmed cases.
2025 Key Findings:
- Infants continue to have the highest incidence rate of pertussis and are most at risk for severe illness, including hospitalization.
- The incidence rate among infants increased significantly from 85.3 per 100,000 in 2024 to 148.3 per 100,000 in 2025.
- Among hospitalized infants, 63% were not protected by vaccination, meaning they had not received at least one dose of a pertussis-containing vaccine, and their mother did not receive a pertussis-containing vaccine during pregnancy.
Call to Action:
We urge providers to:
- Review and reinforce maternal vaccination practices during pregnancy to protect infants.
- Ensure timely administration of pertussis-containing vaccines for infants and children according to the recommended schedule.
- Maintain clinical vigilance for pertussis symptoms, promptly test suspected cases, and provide treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis to all household members of confirmed cases.
*Please note that these data are provisional and subject to change as case investigations are completed and reports are finalized.