Why Texas Is Seeing a Huge Jump in Whooping Cough Cases

So here we are, the sick season in Texas. There's something about the shift from summer to fall that creates a myriad of illnesses to hit us. Coincidental? No, not exactly, but the number of cold and flu cases that creep up is pretty staggering.

The old adage is that cold weather makes you sick. Sort of, but not exactly. The cold weather creates the conditions that make it easier for viruses to spread, but the cold itself doesn't cause the illness. It seems each year, though, there is an illness that pops up that we haven't seen in a while. This year is no different.

Whooping Cough Cases On The Rise

Last year, we saw the number of whooping cough cases jump up from previous years. It's not exactly a common virus or illness to catch, so it took everyone by surprise and created just a touch of panic amongst some.

This year, it seems that is the case once again, as for the second year in a row, we've seen an increase in whooping cough cases in Texas. However, it's not a slight increase. Texas has already reported over 3,500 cases of whooping cough this year. That number is a staggering FOUR TIMES the number of cases we saw at this time last year.

What Is Causing The Increase In Cases

Health officials have repeatedly pointed to the lack of vaccinations when it comes to whooping cough. Not that they aren't available, but that they aren't being administered. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, roughly 95% of kindergartners were vaccinated against it. Now, that number stands at 92.1% of them being vaccinated.

The reason behind it? Well, that's not completely known, but the guess is that with all the opposition to the COVID vaccine when it was introduced, some decided that vaccination in general was either harmful or not needed. Only time will tell if the cases continue to increase and what the true cause of it is.