A deadly disease that mostly affects young children is on the rise in the U.S., health officials have warned.Since 2020, whooping cough cases have increased exponentially. However, these reports have not been evenly spread across the country.

Whooping cough is at its highest level in a decade for this time of year, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. There have been 18,506 cases of whooping cough reported so far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States is seeing a decade high in whooping cough cases, with more than 17,500 cases nationwide.

Whooping cough is at its highest level in a decade for this time of year, U.S. health officials reported Thursday.