The Rock County Health Department is alerting residents to several local cases of Pertussis, better known as Whooping Cough . Public Health Nurse Anne Weirich says this respiratory tract illness can be very serious and even deadly. Weirich says the holidays can be a particularly hazardous time for spreading germs with family and friends gathering together, and then kids heading back to school. After a number of larger outbreaks just a few years ago, the number of cases have declined to about 350 in Wisconsin so far this year. Health officials are urging those who are not immunized to get a vaccination.
