A confirmed school outbreak, rising county cases, and a question for Mueller families

At least six students at Lamar Middle School have been diagnosed with whooping cough since August, a cluster that Austin ISD says “meets the criteria to be classified as an ‘outbreak.’” District officials added the cases are “associated with increased community spread in Travis County,” and said they are working closely with Austin Public Health on the response. The confirmation follows weeks of elevated activity across the county, according to Austin Public Health.

There is no verified link between the Lamar cases and schools or households in Mueller. But health officials say the disease is circulating more broadly, which means neighborhood families should pay attention to symptoms and vaccination status while school and sports seasons keep kids in close contact.

What officials say

Austin Public Health confirmed the Lamar cases and the outbreak designation, and said through late September the county had logged 115 pertussis cases, a 35% increase compared with last year’s tally, according to Austin Public Health. More than half of the county’s cases to date involve children, the agency said.

The department also noted that part of the rise may reflect better detection: provider education around testing and clinical signs “has resulted in improved diagnosis, treatment, identification and prophylactic treatment of those exposed,” according to Austin Public Health.

Parents at Lamar have been notified. One, Leslie Santacruz, told a local station she’s staying calm because her child is vaccinated, even as the post-pandemic anxiety lingers. “I’m not scared that my child is going to get it because she’s fully vaccinated and is on a regular schedule, but I feel like after COVID we all have PTSD,” Santacruz said.

Statewide, the trend is sharper. Texas has reported about three times as many pertussis cases in 2024 as in 2023, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The difference between the county’s 35% increase and the statewide threefold surge reflects different populations and time windows, and local detection efforts can also influence reported totals.

Varun Shetty, the state’s chief epidemiologist, underscored the familiar message: vaccination protects both the individual and the community. “[Vaccination is] really important, not only for yourself, but also for the people around you,” said Shetty with the Texas Department of State Health Services. “So, for yourself, getting vaccinated really lowers the chance of you getting sick with pertussis or — even if you were to get it — to be really severely ill with this disease.”

What parents should watch for

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a bacterial respiratory infection that spreads through respiratory droplets when people cough or sneeze. Early symptoms can resemble a cold — runny nose, mild cough, maybe a low fever — but a hallmark is a cough that persists beyond 10 days and often worsens at night. Children may have coughing fits followed by a “whoop” sound or may vomit after coughing. Infants might not cough; they can briefly stop breathing or turn blue. These features and risk profiles are detailed by Austin Public Health.

Those at greatest risk of severe disease include infants too young to be fully vaccinated, pregnant people, and individuals with weakened immune systems, according to Austin Public Health. Vaccination remains the strongest protection: the pediatric DTaP series in early childhood and the Tdap booster for adolescents and adults, including during each pregnancy.

If your child develops a cough lasting 10 days or longer — especially one that worsens at night, causes trouble breathing, or leads to vomiting — clinicians advise calling your doctor. Testing can confirm pertussis, and early antibiotics can reduce infectiousness.

Why this matters in Mueller

There is no confirmed pertussis cluster tied to Mueller’s schools or facilities. But outbreaks at one campus can create exposure paths across the city as students participate in regional sports, after-school programs, faith gatherings, and family activities. County-level data show more pertussis is circulating this year, according to Austin Public Health, and that means vigilance at the neighborhood level.

Local public-health guidance and recent reporting indicate several steps that help schools and families reduce risk. Community response efforts in Austin have focused on coordination with the health department, boosting vaccination access, and timely testing, according to Texas Public Radio and Austin Public Health. For Mueller-area campuses and families, that translates to:

  • Schools coordinating promptly with Austin Public Health on any suspected case, monitoring absenteeism, and sharing clear information with families.
  • Hosting or referring to vaccination clinics for DTaP/Tdap, with particular attention to students who are behind on shots.
  • Parents checking children’s records, keeping sick kids home, and seeking testing if coughs persist or worsen at night.

These measures align with the district’s ongoing collaboration with the city and the broader strategy outlined by Texas Public Radio.

The broader picture: vaccines and the pandemic effect

The state’s pertussis surge is unfolding against a backdrop of waning immunization coverage. DTaP vaccination rates in Texas have slipped in recent years — from about 95.3% in 2017–18 to 91.7% in 2023–24 — and rising exemption rates can thin community protection, according to analysis summarized by Skeptical Raptor. Nationally, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine well-child visits and contributed to lower coverage for several vaccines, a pattern public-health officials say has increased vulnerability to outbreaks of preventable diseases, as reported by Reuters.

Austin has seen this disease before. Medical literature documents earlier pertussis activity in the area and underscores the value of timely diagnosis and treatment — experience local agencies draw on in today’s response, according to PubMed.

What to watch next

For Mueller residents, the takeaways are straightforward: there is no confirmed outbreak in the neighborhood, but countywide activity has climbed, and officials have verified a school outbreak elsewhere in the city. Watch for lingering, nighttime-worsening coughs; check vaccination records for DTaP and Tdap; and expect continued communication between Austin ISD and the city as they work to curb spread. With local numbers elevated and the state reporting a much larger surge, staying current on vaccines and quick to evaluate symptoms are the neighborhood’s best tools, according to Austin Public Health and the Texas Department of State Health Services.