More Whooping Cough Cases Reported

Public health officials believe six more local people, including a 2-year-old, might have contracted whooping cough.

Five cases in the Boise area were confirmed in October. All were adults.

Of the six new cases, five are probable, but have not been confirmed. The victims had symptoms of the disease, but had not been around anyone with a definite case of whooping cough, and did not have laboratory confirmation of their illness. Laura Albright, a Central District Health Department supervisor, said the new confirmed case is an adult.

Idaho has reported more 1997 cases of pertussis, 543, than any other state. Whooping cough, also called pertussis, lasts about two weeks and can be life-threatening to infants.

The Idaho Panhandle has been hit the hardest with 158 cases. A 2-month-old Post Falls baby died in late March after contracting the disease.