Deadly whooping cough hitting record highs in U.S.
In this DML Report…
Texas has recorded over 3,500 cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, through the end of October 2025, marking a four-fold increase from 2024 and a ten-fold rise from 2023, the highest level since 2014. This figure falls just short of the 2013 record of 3,985 cases, the most since 1959. Children account for 85 percent of the infections this year, with no specific regions identified as hotspots. The Texas Department of State Health Services issued an alert last week amid the surge, the second consecutive year of rising cases and alerts. Pertussis cases dipped during and after the Covid pandemic but have rebounded recently. Nationwide, 2024 saw a six-fold increase in cases compared to the prior year, though current U.S. data is unavailable due to a 42-day government shutdown. In Florida, 1,295 cases were reported by September 27, an 81 percent surge from the previous year.
Whooping cough is caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria, which spreads through airborne droplets. Initial symptoms mimic a cold, including a runny nose and sore throat, progressing after about a week to severe coughing fits that can last minutes, cause breathing difficulties, and produce a characteristic 'whoop' sound. In severe instances, these fits may lead to broken ribs, pneumonia, seizures, or brain damage. The infection poses particular risks to infants, with one in 50 unvaccinated children under six months not surviving. Prior to the vaccine's introduction in 1948, the U.S. experienced up to 250,000 cases and 7,300 to 9,000 deaths annually. Post-vaccination, annual cases dropped by more than 90 percent, according to the CDC. However, the bacteria is prone to mutations that may evade vaccines.
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The DTaP vaccine, 98 percent effective, is administered in a five-dose series from two months to six years of age, with Tdap boosters recommended for adolescents and adults. Last school year, 92 percent of Texas kindergarteners were fully vaccinated with Tdap, down from 94 percent the prior year, and the state has not reached the 95 percent threshold for herd immunity since at least 2012. Florida's DTaP vaccination rate stood at 90.6 percent in 2024, the lowest in a decade. Immunization remains the best prevention; parents should ensure children are up to date, and pregnant women along with those around newborns should receive boosters. Dr. Hector Ocaranza, a pediatrician with the Texas Medical Association, expressed concern over year-after-year increases in preventable cases that severely affect infants, older adults, and those with chronic conditions. Dr. Marcos Mestre, chief clinical operations officer at Nicklaus Children's Health System, noted rising pertussis cases in emergency departments, with children experiencing severe coughing, especially alarming in infants.