(KRON) -- California is seeing a rise in cases of whooping cough, a highly contagious bacterial disease that can cause severe illness, state health officials said Friday. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is especially harmful to infants, according to the California Department of Public Health. The CDPH is urging all Californians, especially those who are pregnant or provide care to infants, to be up to date on their Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine. Dr. Tomas Aragon, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer, explained, "Since the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, many practices that had lowered instances of whooping cough are no longer in place, and we’re seeing the disease return to pre-pandemic levels." People who are vaccinated against whooping cough are protected against severe illness and complications due to whooping cough. Complications causing apnea -- dangerous pauses in breathing -- and can be fatal for babies, according to CDPH. "More than 2,000 cases of whooping cough were reported statewide between January and October 2024. Sixty-two of those cases were infants less than four months of age who were hospitalized, including one infant who tragically died," state health officials wrote. People with whooping cough have severe coughing attacks that can last for months. The CDPH said vaccination is recommended for all:   Pregnant people between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, even if they have received Tdap in the past. Adults, every 10 years. Adolescents aged 11 or 12 years (Tdap vaccine is also required for 7th grade advancement in California). Infants and young children receive their own whooping cough (DTaP) vaccines starting at 2 months through 4-6 years of age.