Indiana sees whooping cough infections on rise

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana health officials say the more than 500 cases of whooping cough in the state so far this year are the most reported going back at least four decades.

Experts say the highly contagious illness peaks in waves, every three to five years. But they don't know why the number of cases is increasing. The Indianapolis Star reports that during the last spike in 2004, Indiana had 361 cases of the illness, also known as pertussis.

The number of cases nationwide has also gone up.

Health officials are encouraging booster shots for teenagers and adults because the childhood vaccine's strength fades over time.

Dr. Christopher Belcher of Peyton Manning Children's Hospital says hospitals push new mothers to get the vaccine to break the cycle of children getting the disease.