The first emergence of pertussis was documented in the 16th century, however the Bordetella pertussis bacterium was not identified until 1906.

 

Before the vaccine was available, reported pertussis cases occurred with an average of 157 cases per 100,000 population. In the 1940s the combined diphtheria-tetanus-acellular-pertussis (dTpa) vaccine was introduced, reducing the incidence of pertussis by 99%.

However, during the 1980s the use of vaccines decreased, and thus the incidence began to increase, and continues to rise with epidemics occurring every three to five years.