BOSTON — A spike in whooping cough and pneumonia cases has prompted public health officials to closely monitor case levels at the local and state levels and emphasize vaccinations.

Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said last week that these infectious bacterial respiratory illnesses are mostly affecting children and adolescents, adding that pneumonia-related emergency room visits are at increased levels over the past several weeks, especially among these age groups.

However, medical professionals stress that whooping cough is a vaccine-preventable disease, and a solution to counteract the current high rates of pertussis within the state.

Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sundeep Shukla attributes the increases in rates of pertussis to various causes, among them fewer people being vaccinated, more social interactions, and the lack of mask wearing.

“We’re amplifying the message that getting vaccinated today will benefit you, your family, your friends and your community in the future,” Goldstein said, highlighting that whooping cough cases are at pre-pandemic levels, with 75% of cases from this year being children.

According to data collected by the state’s Department of Public Health, there have already been more than 250 pertussis patients through July, which had been approximately a yearly average before the pandemic. However, from 2021-2023, the recorded number of pertussis patients numbered 24 in total, according to the state’s data.

Goldstein also said that while cases of other respiratory illnesses — such as influenza, COVID-19 and RSV — remain low, they are expected to increase in the winter season. This occurs mainly because people gather together inside more as outdoor temperatures drop, he said.

People who have contracted whooping cough, also known as pertussis, can start out experiencing mild symptoms, Goldstein said. However, those symptoms can progress to a severe cough, or a whoop, and even vomiting in some cases.

Gasping for air, said Shukla, is often the telltale sign of pertussis, and preventions include hand washing, being vaccinated, and being conscientious about the spread of saliva droplets.

Those experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention as soon as possible, especially during the first two weeks of symptoms when the risk of contagion is severe. In particular Shukla recommends pregnant mothers and those with pre-existing respiratory illnesses seek help.

Shukla strongly recommends pregnant mothers be vaccinated since immunity is shared with the unborn baby — a vital measure to ensuring the safety of an infant which is at acute risk for hospitalization if it catches the bacterial disease.

Adults in general should be regularly updating their TDAP vaccine every 10 years, which can alleviate the severity of infection if pertussis is contracted, and can minimize the risk of pneumonia after having contracted whooping cough, said Shukla. TDAP protects against tetanus, diptheria, and whooping cough.

As for bacterial pneumonia, which is also called mycoplasma pneumoniae, symptoms may begin with a cough, fever and fatigue, said Goldstein. People experiencing mild symptoms may not need hospitalization, but antibiotic treatment is recommended to reduce symptoms and decrease outbreaks, Goldstein said.

For those who do get sick, Paxlovid can help treat COVID-19 cases within five days of developing mild symptoms, he said. Free telehealth services are also offered by the state’s Department of Public Health.

Goldstein also said the DPH is echoing the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services’ “Risk Less, Do More” nationwide campaign to promote vaccinations for respiratory viruses. Getting vaccinated for respiratory illnesses can “significantly cut the risk of getting really sick or being hospitalized,” he said.

Residents can get vaccinated for influenza, COVID-19 and RSV at various sites across the state, including pharmacies, community health centers and mobile vaccination clinics. In-home vaccination programs for COVID-19 and influenza are also viable options for people who can’t get to community vaccination centers.

Gazette reporter Samuel Gelinas contributed to this report. Sophia Falbo writes for the Gazette as part of the Boston University Statehouse Program.