Whooping cough cases in Texas have surged to record levels, with over 3,500 infections reported statewide so far this year, according to a health alert from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Preliminary data shows 85 percent of cases have occurred among children, prompting renewed concern among public health officials. Reported infections are now four times higher than they were in October 2024, marking the second straight year of sharp increases. Texas saw 340 cases in 2023 and about 1,900 in 2024, according to DSHS. The agency has not identified a single cause for the rise but warns that pertussis — a highly contagious respiratory disease — continues to spread rapidly in schools and child-care settings.
