LONDON, Ont. — A whooping cough outbreak at a London, Ont., school has the Middlesex London Health Unit reminding parents to check their children's vaccinations.
The health unit says there has been an increased number of cases of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, in the London area.
Several at the unnamed school prompted the health unit to declare an outbreak there.
Officials say many of the students at the school that were diagnosed with the chronic cough were not vaccinated against the disease.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious, under-reported bacterial disease that can be fatal in infants.
It can cause prolonged coughing that can last for months and include a high-pitched "whooping" sound.
