Des Moines, Iowa [KCCI] – Health officials in two central Iowa counties are warning of an increase in cases of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough. The Polk County Health Department said they are seeing an increase in the number of pertussis cases in the county. Pertussis is a bacterial infection that is contagious. The respiratory illness is most common in kids. Since Jan. 1st, Polk County has had 57 cases of whooping cough. Thirty-seven of those cases were reported since September. And 21 of them in the last two weeks.

An official with Unity Point Health Des Moines, said no one has been admitted to their hospital recently for whooping cough. But their clinics and emergency rooms have seen people come in for the disease. In Warren County, Warren County Health Services sent out a news release to parents and guardians in Carlisle Schools on Nov. 15th, warning of “an increase in the number of Pertussis cases throughout the county and the state.” The letter included information about symptoms and vaccinations. Symptoms of whooping cough include a runny nose, low-grade fever and a cough.

Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they’re seeing a spike too. The CDC said there are more than five times as many cases reported so far this year than there were at this time last year. The CDC also said the United States is moving towards more pre-pandemic patterns. According to a recent report, the number of reported cases this year is higher than it was at the same time in 2019, prior to the pandemic.