Missouri hit by hooping cough

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Health officials say 16 cases of pertussis have been reported in the past two months in St. Charles County, a suburban area outside St. Louis.

St. Charles County officials said a dozen of the whopping cough cases involved elementary school children, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported Tuesday. The county has experienced 21 cases so far this year.

Pertussis is often called whooping cough because of coughing fits that are followed by a "whooping" noise.

The St. Charles County Division of Public Health said parents should check with their doctor to make sure their child's pertussis immunization is up to date.