Whooping cough confirmed at Arkansas school

CLINTON, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Department of Health says several cases of whooping cough have been confirmed at a school in north Arkansas.

The health department says it's confirmed cases of the disease, also known as pertussis, at Clinton Intermediate School.

Students at the school are receiving booster shots and those students already showing symptoms are getting antibiotics to prevent the spread of the disease.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can cause serious illness in infants, children and adults. Health officials say the disease is typically spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms include persistent, rapid coughing fits and a "whooping" sound caused by rapid intake of air after a coughing spell.

Cox Media Group