Texas reported more than 3,500 cases of whooping cough or pertussis in this year, revealed the state figures. This is four times the number as last year and the highest since 2013. This is not the first time it is happening in Texas, in fact, last year, Texas had experienced a high number of cases. The state has witnessed high year-over-year increases in reported pertussis cases. Right now, only seven weeks are left in the year, and the numbers are likely to grow. What Is Whooping Cough?As per the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whooping cough is a respiratory illness that is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The disease is only found in humans. Whooping cough bacteria attach to the cilia, which are the tiny, hair-like extensions that line part of the upper respiratory system. The bacteria release toxins (poisons), which damage the cilia and cause airways to swell. What Are The Symptoms Of Whooping Cough?The CDC notes that it usually takes 5 to 10 days for symptoms to show up after the person is exposed to the bacteria that causes whooping cough. Sometimes, symptoms do not develop for as long as 3 weeks. Whooping cough appears similar to a common cold early on. Healthcare providers often don't suspect or diagnose it until more severe symptoms appear.Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:Runny or stuffed-up noseLow-grade fever (less than 100.4°F)Mild, occasional coughBabies may struggle to breathe: many babies with whooping cough do not even cough at all. This means they have apnea or life-threatening pauses in breathing. This apnea cause cyanosis, or to turn blue or they may struggle to breathe.Later symptoms of whooping coughMake a high-pitched "whoop" when they inhale after a coughing fitVomit during or after coughing fitsFeel very tired after the fit, but usually seem well in-between fitsHave difficulty sleeping at nightStruggle to breatheFracture (break) a ribWhat Is Happening In Texas?Reported cases in Texas and nationwide dropped during and right after the COVID-19 pandemic, but have surged again in recent years.Texas logged only 340 cases in 2023, but that number jumped to 1,907 last year, with more than half reported in November and December, according to provisional data. It marks the second year in a row that the state’s health agency has issued a health alert.cases this year have been reported in children, though no deaths have occurred.The rapid rise in infections coincides with falling vaccination rates in Texas and across the country. Infectious disease specialists stress that immunization remains the most effective way to prevent the disease and curb its spread.About 92% of kindergarteners nationwide were vaccinated against whooping cough in the 2024–25 school year, down from roughly 95% before the pandemic, according to federal data.Does Vaccination Help?Vaccination doesn’t fully prevent infection, but it usually leads to much milder symptoms, the Texas alert notes.Infants and children receive the DTaP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. The CDC currently recommends five doses: at 2, 4, and 6 months; a fourth dose at 15–18 months; and a fifth between ages 4 and 6.
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