Doctors urging people to get vaccinated for whooping cough as cases rise around the United States.  

The United States is seeing 3x the amount of Pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough, this year over 2023.

The Centers for Disease Control is calling on all states to encourage parents to get their kids the needed vaccines for school. The Ohio Department of Health says before the start of the last school year 86.2 % of kindergarteners had the recommended vaccines for them to start school. Which is slightly lower than the year before, and nearly 90% before the pandemic. State health experts say that parents have a lack of fear of diseases like measles, whooping cough, and polio as a threat to children's health.

Mercer County Health District has confirmed one case of whooping cough in the county. Whooping cough usually starts with cold-like symptoms and a mild cough or fever. Early symptoms include a runny nose, fever, a mild cough and a pause in breathing for babies. Later symptoms include rapid coughs, vomiting during or after coughing fits, and exhaustion following coughing fits. Prevention of whooping cough includes covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, as well as washing your hands. The best way to prevent whooping cough is by getting vaccinated.