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Whooping Cough in Arizona

Seven cases of whooping cough were confirmed at a Prescott middle school by Monday, leading health officials to aggressively treat students and adults there.

Debbie Savoini, the communicable disease supervisor at the Yavapai County Health Department, said officials were asking anyone with a cough to see a doctor before going to school.

By Monday, seven cases -- mostly involving students -- had been identified at Granite Mountain Middle School. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is highly contagious.

Most adults and older children can be treated with antibiotics without much complication, but young children and infants can become seriously ill if exposed to the disease, Savoini said.

Symptoms generally begin with a mild cough and escalate into an uncontrollable hacking cough.

(Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed)

Story Posted: 09-30-2002 at 3:53 PM MST

Last Modified: 09-30-2002 at 3:59 PM MST

 

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