![Whooping Cough Outbreak Slowing in Minnesota](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2010/12/minnesota_policies.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Whooping Cough Outbreak Slowing in Minnesota
ST. PAUL (AP) - Minnesota health officials say an outbreak of whooping cough appears to be slowing in the state.
In the past two weeks another 190 cases were confirmed. That's nearly the same number of cases that were reported for just one week in mid-September.
Claudia Miller of the Minnesota Department of Health says the drop in cases is a good sign. But she says there is still a lot of the disease circulating in the community.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, causes a persistent, severe cough that sometimes lasts for months.
In total, Minnesota has confirmed more than 3,700 cases of the bacterial infection. That's the highest number since the 1940s, before a vaccine was developed.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)
More From AM 1240 WJON
![St. Cloud VA to Offer Whooping Cough Vaccine to Veterans](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2013/09/coughing.png?w=980&q=75)
![Panel: Pregnant Women, Get Whooping Cough Shot](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2012/10/Flu-Shot.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Parents Alerted To Whooping Cough In St. Joseph](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2010/12/whooping-cough.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![St. Ben’s, St. John’s Official Higher Ed Partners with MN United](http://townsquare.media/site/70/files/2019/11/soccer_ball_getty_Michael-Regan_Getty24.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Gas Prices Fall in Minnesota, Rise Nationally](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/04/attachment-GettyImages-97962772.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![St. Cloud’s Coborn’s, CentraCare Make List of Biggest Minnesota Employers](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-Jobs3-Thinkstock-GettyImages.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Central MN Meat Market Introduces 24/7 Meat Vending Machine](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-Jen-and-Travis.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Becker Woman Hurt in Crash Near Spicer](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/06/State-Patrol-Stock-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Get Ready For Change: Minnesota Introduces Area Code 924 Overlay](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-NewAreaCode.jpg?w=980&q=75)