(NEXSTAR) – Pertussis — a disease commonly referred to as whooping cough — is spreading quickly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns. The U.S. has seen five times more cases in 2024 than we did at this time last year.

As of Nov. 9, which marks the latest data available from the CDC, there were more than 23,500 cases of whooping cough reported so far this year. That's far and above the roughly 5,000 cases confirmed in all of 2023.

Health officials warn the case count will continue to rise if people aren't careful. The disease is highly contagious and can spread quickly through schools, childcare centers and over large areas. It spreads easily person-to-person as people cough, and sickened people can be contagious for weeks.