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Whooping Cough Cases on the Rise in Kentucky

Flickr/Creative Commons/UW Health

Kentucky has seen an uptick in the number of pertussis cases, or whooping cough.  State health officials reported 87 cases between August and December of last year with the most cases occurring in Jefferson County and the Northern Kentucky region. 

Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease caused by bacteria and transmitted through sneezing, coughing, or talking. 

Teresa Casey works in communicable diseases with the Barren River District Health Department in Bowling Green.  She told WKU Public Radio that some groups are most at risk than others.

"We're very concerned about children under the age of one, pregnant women, people who have any kind of chronic breathing condition," Casey said.

Those conditions include cystic fibrosis, asthma, and severe heart disease. 

Whooping cough can be especially dangerous in infants, who should start receiving the the vaccine at two months of age.  Adults, especially parents and caregivers, should also be up to date on immunizations.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.