Whooping cough is clinically known as Pertussis, and is caused by a bacteria called Bordetella Pertussis. Last summer, there was an increased number of cases in the state of Vermont compared to other years. It is an illness that is most dangerous in young children and infants; however, it can also affect unvaccinated school age children and teens. When I was in high school, I was at a private school that allowed unvaccinated students, and there were two different outbreaks of whooping cough while I was in school. It is important to raise awareness of this illness because treatment must come before the characteristic cough to be effective. This condition is preventable by a vaccine, but it is also important for adults to get booster shots to make help increase their children's protection.
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