Whooping Cough Spreading at Austin’s Lamar Middle School, Health Officials Warn

Austin Public Health has reported five confirmed cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, among students at Lamar Middle School this year, prompting worries about the potential for the illness to spread throughout the campus.

The agency reports that the cases involve students from diverse grades and classes who have no connection to each other.

“While confirmation remains elusive, the evidence strongly suggests that pertussis is on the rise at this middle school,” stated Heather Cooks-Sinclair, the epidemiology and disease surveillance manager for Austin Public Health.

According to Cooks-Sinclair, five additional schools in various districts across the Austin region have reported cases of pertussis this academic year. She observed a surge in infections in Travis County, potentially due to increased testing.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness marked by a relentless cough that persists beyond 10 days, often intensifying at night. Individuals may experience coughing bouts that produce a distinctive “whoop” sound, usually followed by vomiting. Additional signs may manifest as a runny nose, sneezing, and fever.

Infants and young children face heightened risks from the illness, as they often struggle with breathing difficulties. Health experts, including those from Austin Public Health, report that approximately one in three infants diagnosed with whooping cough require hospitalization.

“If your physician suspects that you or your child may have pertussis, it is important to refrain from attending school until you or your child has received clearance to return from both the physician and the health department,” stated Dr. Desmar Walkes, the Austin-Travis County Health Authority, in a letter addressed to parents of Lamar Middle School earlier this fall.

In Texas, students must receive the TDAP vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, before school enrollment, unless they qualify for a conscientious exemption.

According to state data, as the 2024–25 school year approaches, just 74.31% of kindergartners in Austin ISD have completed their TDAP vaccination. In the district, the exemption rate stood at 2.19%, indicating that some unvaccinated students lacked a formal exemption on record.

Cooks-Sinclair emphasized that the recent cases demonstrate the importance of staying up to date on vaccinations. “It is crucial to ensure your child is vaccinated if they have not yet received their shots,” she emphasized. The effectiveness of the pertussis vaccine diminishes over time. Children aged 9 to 10 years or 15 to 16 years might require a booster shot.

In a striking development, the Texas Department of State Health Services revealed that the number of pertussis cases across the state has surged to three times the levels seen in 2023. The agency has yet to unveil the provisional data for 2025.

Austin ISD and Lamar Middle School had no comments at this time.

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