Winneshiek County is seeing an increase in whooping cough cases

The Winneshiek County Public Health Nursing Service handled 34 cases of pertussis—commonly known as "whooping cough"—during the past 12 months.  Public Health Nurse Krista Vandenbrink says that represents an increase in cases over the previous year.

Vandenbrink says many of the cases in Winneshiek County were of children between the ages of 10 to 12.  Children commonly get a whooping cough vaccine shot when they enter kindergarten.  A booster shot in the past has not been administered until kids get in 7th or 8th grade, but Vandenbrink says that procedure may have to change, since it seems the younger kids need a booster shot around age 10.