AUSTIN, Texas — At least six cases of whooping cough have been confirmed at an Austin middle school since August. This comes as the local public health authority reports it’s seeing an uptick in overall cases compared to last year.
Austin Public Health (APH) said the positive cases were reported at Lamar Middle School, located on Wynona Avenue. The ages and grade levels of the patients have not been released.
APH said through September, Austin-Travis County has seen 115 cases of whopping cough – also called pertussis – overall, which it says is a 35% increase compared to all of 2024. Of the 115 cases this year, more than half have involved children.
The health department said the rise in whooping cough cases might be due to education APH has shared with local health care providers regarding testing and signs of the illness. APH says this has “resulted in improved diagnosis, treatment, identification and prophylactic treatment of those exposed to this illness.”
Meanwhile, Austin ISD released the following statement about the cases at Lamar:
“We work closely with Austin Public Health to ensure community awareness and to stop the spread of any illness. APH has confirmed that the number of student pertussis cases identified at Lamar MS meets the criteria to be classified as an ‘outbreak’ and is associated with increased community spread in Travis County.”
If you notice your child has a cough that lasts at least 10 days and gets worse in the evenings, this could be a sign of pertussis. Exposure could put your child at risk, and it’s important to see a doctor if symptoms arise.
What to know about whooping cough
Whooping cough is a bacterial respiratory infection that often spreads through coughing, sneezing, sharing items and being in close contact with others. It’s particularly harmful to those including pregnant women, babies and people with weak immune systems, though the infection can spread to anyone.
Symptoms to look out for early-on include a slight cough, sneeze and runny nose. Some people might also develop a small fever.
Between one and ten weeks, additional signs of pertussis include a worsening cough with a “whooping” sound, trouble breathing and vomiting after coughing. Other symptoms you might see are difficulty sleeping, worsening conditions in the evening and moments of brief improvement in between coughs.
Meanwhile, babies who develop pertussis might not cough, but could instead stop breathing temporarily or even turn blue.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), getting vaccinated can help you stay protected against whooping cough. The health organization says babies, children, teenagers, adults and pregnant women should all get the vaccine to lower their risk.