Kentucky city reports spike in whooping cough cases

A Kentucky city is reporting an increased number of whooping cough cases.

The Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness says it saw 62 cases of whooping cough in the last two months of 2018. It saw only 27 cases in all of 2017.

Health leaders are now advising area physicians to test for whooping cough in patients with a persistent cough for two weeks or longer.

The contagious disease initially resembles a cold, but it can become more serious over time. The best way to prevent whooping cough is vaccination.