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A concerning trend has emerged as health experts sound the alarm about a drug-resistant strain of whooping cough, colloquially termed the "100-day cough."

The new strain, resistant to both antibiotic treatment and vaccinations, has raised widespread concerns among health authorities.

Research findings, although awaiting peer review, highlight the emergence of this new strain of whooping cough, posing a global health threat. Cases of the "100-day cough" have been reported across Europe, Asia and the U.S. in recent months.

According to the Mirror, the surge in whooping cough cases, particularly since January of this year, has been notable, with more than 15,000 cases reported-a staggering 15-fold increase compared to the same period last year.

Such spikes in cases, often attributed to Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis bacteria, occur periodically every three to four years.

Scientists stressed that the current surge in cases has been exacerbated by weakened immunity among populations, allowing the virus to evade vaccine-induced protection.

Contrary to previous notions of waning immunity, researchers suggest that pathogen evolution is the primary driver behind the surge in whooping cough cases, including age shift and vaccine evasion.

A concerning development is the emergence of a new strain of the virus, MR-MT28, which exhibits resistance to multiple antibiotics, including azithromycin, clarithromycin, and erythromycin.

This strain, described as "uniquely capable" of causing significant infections among older children and vaccinated individuals, poses a formidable challenge to traditional treatment methods.

Data collected from patients at the Children's Hospital of Fudan University (CHFU) in Shanghai, between June 2016 and March 2024, revealed a concerning trend. Despite high vaccination rates, the proportion of older children contracting whooping cough has surged, indicating a shift in the affected demographic.

Recent reports from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also highlighted a rise in whooping cough cases, prompting government warnings to parents. Symptoms, including prolonged coughing bouts, post-coughing retching or vomiting and rib pain, require prompt medical attention, as outlined in advisory letters sent to affected regions.