Texas, April 5 -- Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, was formerly a leading cause of death in children in the United States and around the world before vaccines were introduced in the 1940s.

In the decades since, the bacterial disease has been practically eradicated in the United States, with annual fatalities falling into the double digits.

Now, new research from The University of Texas at Austin could aid in improving whooping cough vaccines to once again push this disease toward eradication by targeting two key weaknesses in the infection.

But the disease has made a troubling comeback in recent years as vaccine coverage declined after the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2024, several outbreaks left public health officials and hospitals ...