DENVER ( KDVR ) — Cases of whooping cough are on the rise across the U.S. and in Colorado, including Jefferson and El Paso counties.
Students at Cheyenne Mountain High School were given a detailed letter in October about how the school is investigating a case of the disease. Earlier in the month, Jefferson County Public Health issued a warning to residents about the highly contagious disease.
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The local health departments aren’t alone: In July, the Centers for Disease Control issued a warning that whooping cough was returning to pre-pandemic levels. This is concerning health officials because, in recent years, there have been as few as 2,116 reported cases of whooping cough across the U.S.
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts like a cold with a runny nose and other common symptoms, before turning into a prolonged cough, known for the “whooping” noise that sickened individuals tend to make during this portion of the illness. It is treated with antibiotics but can be prevented with a vaccine.