People with pertussis usually spread the disease to another person by coughing or sneezing or when spending a lot of time near one another where you share breathing space. Many babies who get pertussis are infected by older siblings, parents, or caregivers who might not even know they have the disease.

How easy is it to get whooping cough?

Whooping cough is very easy to catch. If a person in your household has it and you did not get the vaccine, you have up to a 90% chance of catching it. SOURCES: CDC: "Vaccines and Immunizations."

Is whooping cough droplet or airborne?

Pertussis is spread by respiratory droplets generated through coughing, sneezing and even talking. People with pertussis usually spread the disease while in close contact with others, who then breathe in the bacteria. An infected person is most contagious early in the course of illness.