The state Department of Health said Wednesday that cases of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, “have increased at a worrying rate in Hawaii.”

As of May 15, the DOH tallied 108 cases of whooping cough in the state. That far exceeds the 84 cases recorded for all of 2024.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the DOH. For the first two weeks, the symptoms may resemble a cold, but usually progress to intense coughing fits. In kids, coughing fits may be followed by a high-pitched “whooping” as they inhale. Health complications can be serious and even life-threatening, especially for infants and young children who are not fully vaccinated. Complications include pneumonia, seizures, apnea (a pause in breathing), encephalopathy (a disease of the brain) and death.

The state agency said high vaccination rates protect individuals and communities and prevent outbreaks. However, vaccination rates for all routinely recommended vaccinations for school entry, including those for measles, pertussis, polio and chicken pox, have declined in Hawaii since 2019, with the state below national averages.

The DOH provides information about vaccine options and dose recommendations on its website.