Health officials in Cameron and Hidalgo counties said they are seeing more cases of a respiratory infection that’s especially contagious in children.

According to the Texas Tribune, the state of Texas reported more than 3,500 cases of whooping cough so far this year. That’s quadruple the amount of cases seen in 2024.

Cameron County Health Authority Dr. James Castillo said 74 cases of the infection are on record as of September 2025. There were only 25 total reported cases in 2024.

Data from the Hidalgo County Health Department shows 151 cases on record this year, and there were only 34 cases reported last year.

READ MORE: The number of whooping cough cases in Texas is the highest it’s been in 11 years

The uptick in whooping cough cases across the state is happening amid a decline in the vaccination rate of the illness, according to the Texas Tribune.

Castillo said whooping cough may seem similar to the common cold, but it can progress to severe coughing fits that can last several minutes.

“The whooping cough where they could look like they can't breathe, it's so bad,” Castillo said. “It’s extremely scary to see, extremely scary for the parents, and it could lead to hospitalizations, major complications."

As cases continue to rise, health officials urge families to stay current on their vaccinations, especially those around infants who are too young to be vaccinated.

“The treatment is for everybody around them to be vaccinated,” Castillo said, adding that people should get the TDAP vaccine against whooping cough every 10 years.

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