The Marathon County Health Department has seen nearly 200 confirmed cases of whooping cough since January. The normal number is 12 in an entire year.

Whooping Cough is highly contagious and is a respiratory illness. For adults it may seem like a bad cold, but for infants and children it can potentially be deadly if not treated quickly.

Ruth Marx, an Epidemiologist says, “During an outbreak like this we ask parents if kids show symptoms of persistent coughing to keep them home from school and call their doctor for an evaluation.”

Booster shots are now available for adults, but health specialists recommend that your children also receive a shot to keep from spreading the illness.