Washington state officials warned of a "sharp increase" in whooping cough cases compared to this time last year, mirroring a nationwide trend.

This year could be a decade-high for whooping cough cases in Washington state, according to numbers by the state Department of Health.

The Iredell County Health Department is warning about the increase in whooping cough cases. Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection. ALSO READ: Child dies, another hospitalized as strep cases spike in Mecklenburg County It can cause serious coughing fits in infants and children.

Although the disease may produce only a mild, persistent cough in adults or adolescents, young children exposed to the disease can be at risk for severe complication

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported a sharp rise in pertussis (whooping cough) cases in 2024, with the number of cases so far this year nearly tripling compared to the same period in 2023.