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WWU identifies 6 cases of whooping cough

Over the last two months six people have come down with pertussis at Western Washington University.

Western Washington University has identified six cases of whooping case on its main campus in Bellingham over the last two months.

The university announced the outbreak Monday through an advisory alert warning students and staff to take precautions against the respiratory illness.

WWU says all people who were in close contact with the patients have been offered antibiotics to prevent getting sick, and classrooms have been advised of whooping cough symptoms.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is highly contagious and is spread through close contact such as coughing or sneezing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, people cannot pass on whooping cough unless they become sick themselves.

Symptoms include runny nose, fever, vomiting, and rapid coughing.

Pertussis can be prevented with the DTaP vaccine for babies and young children and the Tdap vaccine for older children and adults. People are also advised to wash their hands frequently and keep babies away from people who are sick.

As of May 4, there have been 161 cases of whooping cough in Washington state this year, according to the state Department of Health. Of those cases, 12 have been in Whatcom County.

Last year Washington state had 517 cases of whooping cough, according to the CDC.

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