The Anne Arundel County health department and school officials have notified residents that there has been an uptick this year in cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, particularly in school-aged children, and officials want those who are infected to stay home to stop its spread.
Pertussis is a contagious respiratory infection spread through contact with an infected person. It causes fever, runny nose and cough, which can become more severe and last up to 10 weeks. It can sound like a high-pitched "whoop."
The state requires young children to be immunized against pertussis – it's included in a vaccine along with tetanus and diphtheria. This year, the state began requiring seventh-graders to get a booster.
Arundel schools had about 1,000 students who were not immunized by the time school started but have since been vaccinated.
The county health department reported that there have been eight confirmed or suspected cases so far this year. There were 35 last year and 19 in 2013.
According to data from the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, cases peaked across Maryland in 2012 at 369 but had been declining. There were 213 cases in 2013. Preliminary data provided in early December showed there were 160 cases in 2014.
State officials couldn't immediately say how many cases there have been so far this year or if other counties are seeing increases.