Officials launch whooping cough campaign

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The number of whooping cough cases in New Mexico continues to rise and the Department of Health is ramping up efforts to educate people about preventing the infectious disease.

DOH says there have been 644 cases of the deadly disease so far this year, including two child deaths. That is more than double the total number last year, 275 cases.

“There are certainly concentrated outbreaks in schools,” says Dr. Cleveland Sharp with ABQ Health Partners. “We absolutely want to keep it out of a newborn nursery, so it's important to vaccinate to protect the little ones and older folks with chronic respiratory disease because they're the ones who are going to suffer.”    

Dr. Sharp says this doesn’t just apply to children.

“Everybody needs vaccinations, including grandma and grandpa.”

To slow down this contagious disease, the State Health Department is spreading the message, plastering it on billboards and airing a public service announcement on Telemundo.

Dr. Sharp says it’s all about a collective community effort.

“My vaccine works pretty good, yours is better, ours protects everyone around us even more.”

Health officials suggest seeing a doctor if you have a cough for longer than a week.