Whooping cough cases are on the rise in Oklahoma, the state Health Department said Thursday in urging parents to protect infants from the disease.

Sixty-eight cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, have been reported in Oklahoma in 2002, compared with 21 during the period a year ago, the Health Department said. One pertussis-related death, in an infant, has been reported this year.

"Parents should keep their infants away from people who have persistent coughs and make sure infants and other young children are vaccinated against whooping cough," said Dr. Leslie Beitsch, state health commissioner.

Texas and Arkansas have each reported more than 400 cases of whooping cough and New Mexico has had more than 120, according to the Health Department.

Whooping cough, a bacterial respiratory illness, is spread through coughing and sneezing. The illness is characterized by a persistent cough lasting at least two weeks or longer with one of the following conditions: coughing fits, a high-itched sound made when breathing in after a coughing fit, or vomiting following coughing.

In young children and infants, the disease may cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and death.

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