Whooping cough on the rise

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The Oklahoma Health Department says cases of whooping cough are on the rise and parents should make sure infants are vaccinated. <br><br>So far the state has 68 reported cases of

Thursday, August 15th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The Oklahoma Health Department says cases of whooping cough are on the rise and parents should make sure infants are vaccinated.

So far the state has 68 reported cases of whooping cough and one infant whooping cough-related death. Last year at this time only 21 cases had been reported.

In Texas more than 4-hundred cases have been reported. Arkansas has reported 4-hundred and nine cases and New Mexico has one-hundred and 20 reported cases of whooping cough.

Officials say babies should get their first whooping cough vaccination by two months. Booster shots should follow.

Whooping cough is characterized by a persistent cough that lasts more than two weeks and is spread by sneezing and coughing.