Whooping cough
Questions & Answers Whooping cough The number of whooping cough cases is rising: Why the disease can be too dangerous What is whooping cough? Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious disease of the respiratory tract and is usually caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Whooping cough is spread by the infected person when coughing, sneezing or via the air (droplet infection).