WACO, Texas (KXXV) — Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection and it's on the rise here in McLennan County. Local health district reports 5 times more whooping couch cases than last year

The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District told 25 News that reports are five times higher this year compared to the numbers of last year.

A spokesperson for the district said 2025 reports are currently at 67 cases. In all of 2024, there were 12 cases reported.

Texas has had more than 3,500 reported pertussis (whooping cough) cases through October this year, roughly four times the number reported for the same period last year, according to the Texas Dept. of State Health Services.

Last week the department said, "this is the second consecutive year that Texas is experiencing

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