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Whooping Cough on the Rise in NY

Cases of whooping cough are up and New York state health officials are urging people to make sure they're vaccinated.

New York reports 970 cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, so far this year compared to 931 cases for all of last year. Cases are up nationally by nearly 44 percent.

State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah on Wednesday urged New Yorkers to make sure that they and their family members are up-to-date on whooping cough vaccinations.

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved