Pittsburgh-area school reports whooping cough

Associated Press

UPPER ST. CLAIR, Pa. September 16, 2008 12:51 pm

— The Allegheny County Health Department has confirmed a case of whooping cough in a suburban Pittsburgh school district.
The sick student attends the Upper St. Clair school district. The highly contagious illness resembles a cold at first, but results in severe episodes of coughing and vomiting.
Officials say students vaccinated against pertussis — the clinical name for whooping cough — should be OK.
Last month, county health officials confirmed at least 11 cases of the respiratory bacterial infection among employees at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Pittsburgh.