Whooping Cough on the Rise

West Virginia health officials are reporting a spike in whooping cough. According to the Charleston Gazette-Mail, the Department of Health and Human Resources reports 52 confirmed cases of pertussis in West Virginia so far this year. That’s up from 18 cases last year and 19 cases in 2013. The department has confirmed five outbreaks this year, including one in October that still has active cases. Dr. Rahul Gupta, the state health commissioner, says outbreaks of pertussis tend to occur in three- to five-year cycles and there were 168 cases in 2010. The department has sent an advisory to health-care providers across the state alerting them to look for symptoms of pertussis and coordinate with local health officials in testing for suspected cases.