Austin Public Health has continued to confirm cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, this fall as the Texas Department of State Health Services reports a surge in cases across the state.
DSHS issued a health alert Nov. 3 announcing a significant increase in activity from the highly contagious bacterial disease, which is characterized by cold-like symptoms and a persistent cough. Texas has seen 3,500 cases through October of this year, approximately four times more cases than there were during the same period last year. In 2023, there were just 340 reported cases.
Local health authorities have also seen a rise in cases this year. There have been 134 confirmed cases so far, up from 115 through September…