Whooping Cough in Kent County

Cases of whooping cough are up slightly in Kent County this year.

Allegan County has seen a bigger increase.

2012 saw the most reported cases of the whooping cough (pertussis) in the U.S. since 1955. 48,277 cases of whooping cough were reported in the U.S.. Even more cases go unreported.

This year, 13 cases of whooping cough (pertussis) have been reported in Kent County. In 2013, there were 9 cases by the same time of the year. 2010 saw 17 cases of whooping cough in Kent County.

Allegan County has seen a bigger increase. 21 cases have been reported since September 1, more than double of the same time period in 2013.

The Allegan County Health Department's Dr. Richard Tooker tells WZZM 13 what they are doing to fight whooping cough, "We're assuring that, particularly, infants who are at high risk of pertussis are protected from this disease by vaccinating those around the infant and providing antibiotics to people who are sick with pertussis, or may get pertussis."