Whooping cough cases increase in Western North Carolina
Physicians in neighboring Western North Carolina are keeping a watchful eye on school-age children and young adults as 10 cases of whooping cough have been identified by health provider AppHealthCare.
A pertussis vaccine is the most reliable step to stopping the bacteria-based, highly contagious condition, according to the agency.
Symptoms include rapid coughing fits, low grade temperature, runny nose and the heavy whooping sound made while taking a breath after several seconds of coughing.
An AppHealthCare report said 20 more cases are now being investigated.
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