UNITED STATES -- While many Americans are suffering from the flu, last year was the worst for whooping cough in nearly 60 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 42,000 cases were reported. That number is expected to rise.

The CDC says whooping cough tends to run in multi-year cycles, and experts say last year appears to have been a peak.

Although the number of cases for 2012 was the highest since 1955, officials say the number of deaths related to the disease dropped to 18. Experts are crediting doctors with quicker diagnosis and treatment of whooping cough.