Whooping cough has sickened more than 300 people in New Mexico this year, though it's lagging behind last year's record-setting pace. Health officials still are alarmed by the high number of cases.
So far this year, state health officials say 343 people have had pertussis. The New Mexico Department of Health says the bacterial illness has hospitalized 17 New Mexicans, including 11 infants. No pertussis deaths have been reported.
Whooping cough had sickened 519 New Mexicans through Aug. 28, last year.
The hallmark symptom of whooping cough is a severe cough that can last for months. Symptoms usually begin 21 days after exposure, beginning with a runny nose, sneezing and a mild fever.
___
Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.