Texas reports fourfold increase in whooping cough cases

Texas is experiencing a significant rise in whooping cough cases, reporting over 3,500 this year, four times higher than last year, according to the state’s health department. This increase follows a trend of elevated cases nationally, with the CDC noting a drop in vaccination rates, from 95% pre-pandemic to 92.1% for kindergarteners. The U.S. saw around 20,939 pertussis cases in 2024, with treatment options available to mitigate severity. States like Nebraska, Idaho, Oregon, and Hawaii report the highest rates of infection.

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