Nearly 2,900 whoopping cough cases have been reported in the US state of Texas so far this year and things are about as bad in three neighboring states, local media reported Tuesday.

The number of cases in Louisiana has set a post-1960s record. In Arkansas, the number is double what it was a year ago. And cases are also up in Oklahoma, local TV KWTX reported.

Louisiana's state epidemiologist, Raoult Ratard, told the media that 169 confirmed and likely cases as of mid-October breaks a vaccination-era record of about 160 for all of last year.

The disease starts much as a cold, with sneezing and a congested or runny nose.

Ratard said adults should get booster shots if they are going to be around infants so they don't unknowingly spread the disease to those most likely to die from it.

Five babies less than two months old have died of whooping cough this year in Louisiana and Texas, according to the report.