An 8-week-old infant in Klamath County has been hospitalized for whooping cough, prompting public health officials to encourage parents to ensure their children are immunized against the disease also known as pertussis.

Officials at the Klamath County Health Department are also urging parents to check their children’s immunization records to make certain they have received diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) vaccines.

Children as young as two months may receive the pertussis vaccine, and should receive a total of four such vaccinations by 15 months.

Children should receive an additional dose before starting school, according to Marilynn Sutherland, director of the public health department.

“Whooping cough is caused by bacteria and can easily spread from a sick person via coughing, sneezing or talking,” Sutherland said. “It can lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia, especially for infants less than one year of age.”

Sutherland added that the illness starts like the common cold, but within two weeks the cough becomes more severe. Whooping cough produces a high-pitched “whoop” sound, a sign that the child is struggling to breathe between coughs.

As of mid-July, Oregon has seen 35 percent more cases whooping cough than in all of 2001.

Only two cases of whooping cough have been reported to the Klamath County Health Department in the last three years, but health officials are concerned because of the low level of immunizations among very young children in Klamath County.

According to Sutherland, survey data indicate that only about 62 percent of 2-year-olds in the county are adequately immunized against pertussis.

Health officials are contacting anyone who may have been in contact with the sick baby, recommending antibiotic treatment in some cases.

Anyone who thinks their children may have been exposed to whooping cough should immediately see a medical care provider.

Reporter Brian Cole covers local and state government. He can be reached at 885-4416 or (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at bcole@heraldandnews.com.