Whooping cough outbreak reported in Putnam and Cabell Counties

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall Health Network is confirming cases of pertussis, otherwise known as whooping cough, in West Virginia.

Four cases were reported at Hurricane High School in Putnam County from an internal memo, as well as areas in Cabell County and Lawrence County, Ohio.

A Marshall Health Network release reads, “Recently we have observed an increase in pertussis cases in our community.”

Marshall Health also says that two or more cases of pertussis is considered an outbreak.

Pertussis is a contagious respiratory disease mostly spread through respiratory droplets. It affects mostly those who are unvaccinated.