Whooping cough continues to spread in Iowa

(AP) - Iowa health officials are urging adults, especially those caring for infants, get booster vaccinations against whooping cough as the bacterial infection continues to spread.

The Des Moines Register says state medical director Dr. Patricia Quinlisk reports that whooping cough, or pertussis, jumped 66 percent in Iowa last year, with 651 confirmed or probable cases. She says 22 cases were reported in the past four weeks. The infection can be deadly to infants.

Quinlisk estimates 90 percent of adults have no immunity to whooping cough. She says grown-ups often don't realize they have it because the symptoms aren't severe, and they continue to go work or other activities, spreading the germs.

Officials also recommend booster shots for adolescents because protection from childhood shots wanes.