Whooping cough cases are climbing at the fastest pace in years as students across America return to school, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. In figures published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 291 cases were reported for the week ending Sept. 14. New York logged the most cases of any state, with 44 infections. Oklahoma followed closely behind with 40 cases, while Ohio has reported 39 illnesses and Pennsylvania has reported 38 infections.