The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is alerting the public to a significant rise in the number of pertussis cases in Washington state. Commonly known as whooping cough, there have been 193 cases of pertussis reported statewide as of Nov. 2, a sharp increase from the 51 cases reported this time last year. Across the state, whooping cough has been reported in 31 counties, with Chelan, Clark, and Whitman counties seeing the highest rates.