SYRACUSE (AP) -- Whooping cough has been spreading in the Syracuse area.
The Onondaga County health commissioner says 13 more cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, have been reported in school children, bringing the total for the year to 36. That's three times the number of last year.
The highly contagious bacterial infection causes an uncontrollable, violent cough lasting several weeks or even months. Most children are protected from infection by vaccination.
Dr. Cynthia Morrow, the county health commissioner, says her department is notifying summer camps to make sure they're aware of the symptoms and know what to do if they suspect a child has pertussis.
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