More Whooping Cough Cases Reported in Region

At least seven cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, have been reported in Hunterdon County, N.J.  since December, with three more under investigation, according WFMZ.

Earlier this week, alerted the community that students may have been exposed to someone with a case of .

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection spread by coughs and sneezes, that often starts with cold-like symptoms, or mild cough or fever. It can progress into severe coughing spasms after one or two weeks and produce a high-pitched "whooping" sound. Whooping cough is most serious in infants, who often must be hospitalized. Whooping cough has been on the rise since the 1980's, peaking every three to five years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms of whooping cough include:

• Runny nose
• Low-grade fever (generally minimal throughout the course of the disease)
• Mild, occasional cough
• Apnea – a pause in breathing (in infants)

Af the infection progresses, symptoms include:

• Paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched "whoop"
• Vomiting
• Exhaustion after coughing fits

The coughing fits can go on for up to 10 weeks or more.

Source: CDC

It is recommended that infants get the pertuss vaccine starting at two months old, and adolescents and adults should get pertussis booster shots. The CDC now recommends pregnant women in their late second or third trimester get pertussis booster vaccine.