San Diego County Whooping Cough Cases Decline for Third Straight Week

Whooping cough cases in San Diego County have declined for the third straight week, the Health and Human Services Agency announced on Thursday.

According to public health officials, no new cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, were reported at schools or other group sites where large numbers of people could have been exposed.

So far this year, 353 cases of pertussis have been reported in San Diego County, according to the Health and Human Services Agency. In 2010, 1,144 cases were reported, including two infant deaths.

"After persistent outreach efforts to vaccinate the public for whooping cough, the region is beginning to see a downward trend in the number of cases for the region compared to this same time last year," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer. "Previously we saw dozens of cases from week to week, but we are beginning to see single-digit numbers in recent weeks."

Whooping cough usually starts with a cough and runny nose for up to two weeks, followed by weeks to months of coughing fits which sometimes end with a whooping sound. It can be treated with antibiotics.

City News Service contributed to this report.