New Hampshire health officials are warning the public about an outbreak of whooping cough that so far has sickened 62 people in New Hampshire and Vermont.
Doctor Jose Montero, state epidemiologist for New Hampshire, says the outbreak is centered in the Hanover-Lebanon area and that most of the cases are workers at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a contagious bacterial infection that causes persistent loud coughing. It can be serious, especially in the very young. Vaccines are available and it is treatable with antibiotics.
Montero says the outbreak could spread and has asked medical workers to be on the lookout for patients with the disease.