HOUSTON, Texas – Houston-area health officials are raising concerns over a significant increase in whooping cough cases, also known as pertussis, across Texas.
According to state data, Texas has reported more than 3,500 pertussis cases so far this year, a sharp jump from just 340 cases in 2023. The Houston Health Department says those numbers could continue to climb as families gather and travel during the holiday season.
Health officials say the rise in infections is largely being driven by declining vaccination rates. Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial illness that affects the upper respiratory tract and can be especially dangerous for infants who are too young to be vaccinated.
A North Texas family recently told NBC News how their baby struggled to breathe after contracting the illness, at times gasping for air and even stopping breathing for several seconds. The baby required breathing tubes to survive.
Houston’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David Persse, says infants are the primary group being affected right now.
“Pertussis causes the illness that we commonly refer to as whooping cough,” Persse said. “It’s a bacteria that likes the lining of your upper airway. What happens is it damages those cells, making it hard to clear your airway and causing a persistent cough.”
Doctors warn that symptoms in babies can start mild or even appear nonexistent. Without warning, infants can experience brief periods where they stop breathing, a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
Health officials strongly recommend that parents and anyone who will be in close contact with newborns get vaccinated to help prevent the spread of pertussis.
The vaccine has been scientifically proven to be safe and effective.