It's being called the worst whooping cough outbreak since 1959. Over 18,000 cases have been reported across the country, 118 of those have occurred in Indiana.
The situation has prompted the St. Joseph County Health Department to encourage residents to get immunized.
“Older children don't die from pertussis it's a nasty disease, its respiratory but if infants get it, particularly those under a year, they're not fully protected yet with their immunizations and they can very quickly die,” says Barbara Baker of the St. Joseph County Health Department.
It's important for children between the ages of 10 and 13 to receive a whooping cough or pertussis booster shot.
As many lose their previous immunity with time, adults who have contact with infants are also encouraged to get vaccinated.
