As cases of whooping cough rise, CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen explains what causes the respiratory illness, how it spreads and what to do to protect yourself.

Whooping cough disease, caused by the pertussis bacteria, typically starts around a week after people are first exposed to another contagious person. Symptoms can last for weeks to months, ...

"These bacteria can spread when people spend a lot of time together or share breathing space." You don't have to be a baby or a pregnant woman to get pertussis, Wohrley said. Infants get it from ...

This swab is then tested for the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. Health care professionals may also consider the person's symptoms and whether they were recently exposed to any whooping cough cases.

What is whooping cough? Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that affects children and adults alike - though it's more common and concerning in infants and toddlers. The ...

Unlike the flu, the common cold and COVID-19, which are all caused by viruses, whooping cough is a bacterial illness. The culprit is a type of bacteria known as Bordetella pertussis.

This Gram-stained photomicrograph depicts numbers of Bordetella pertussis bacteria, which is the etiologic pathogen for pertussis, also known as whooping cough, 1979.