KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Ten Afghan children have died from what health officials suspect is whooping cough, the Integrated Regional Information Networks reported.
The suspected outbreak has come in the Khvahan district of northeastern Badakhshan province over the past few days, IRIN said Friday.
"Just a few hours ago our local health officials and also the WHO reported that 10 to 15 children had died as a result of possible whooping cough in Khvahan," Abdullah Shirzai Afghan, deputy minister of public health, told IRIN.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes coughing and gagging with little or no fever.
An infected person has cough episodes that may end in vomiting or cause a "whoop" sound when the person breathes in. Its means of transmission is by direct contact with discharges from the nose and throat of infected individuals.
It is most dangerous to persons under one year of age.
