There’s an outbreak of whooping cough in Champaign County. And public health officials want everyone be aware of the infection.
There are currently seven confirmed whooping cough cases in Champaign County, mostly in high school students. There have been 27-cases since October.
Dr. Arwais Vaid is an epidemiologist with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. He says the biggest symptom of whooping cough is a persistent cough accompanied by a high-pitched “whoop.”
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a bacterial infection. Antibiotics can clear it up, without complications. But, the sickness can be dangerous for people with compromised immune systems or other chronic health conditions.
Vaid says the best way to prevent whooping cough is to make sure children are fully immunized.