Queensland is experiencing a significant spike in whooping cough cases, with over 2,380 infections reported in the first few months of 2025—more than triple the average from 2020 to 2024.
In 2024 alone, the state recorded 15,012 cases of the disease—more than the combined total of the previous 11 years. Health experts attribute this alarming rise to declining immunisation rates since the COVID-19 pandemic and poor personal hygiene.