The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) reported 96 pertussis cases between January 1 and November 2, 2025, including 16 (17%) under 5 years old, 16 (17%) age 5–9 years, 53 (55%) age 10–19 years old, and 11 (11%) ages 20 years and older. At this time last year, Maine had 120 pertussis cases. Despite the reduction in cases from last year, the Maine CDC has recently had an increase in questions about pertussis, treatment, and isolation recommendations.
Prompt treatment and isolation of ill individuals help to reduce the spread of pertussis. Individuals diagnosed with pertussis should isolate until 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment have been completed or until 21 days have passed since cough onset. Individuals may resume normal activities after one of these criteria has been met. The Maine CDC created a pertussis guide for health care providers as a resource to build on provider knowledge of pertussis and to help navigate the identification, testing, treatment, and prevention of this illness.