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Guam - Two cases of pertussis or whooping cough have been confirmed by the Department of Public Health. The two cases were found in an 11-year-old and a 2-year-old.


Project manager Annette Aguon said, "So far with our case investigation they are not linked to each other they have no recent travel history or no off-island visitors and so that's what we are looking into if there are someone else around the two-month-old as well as the eleven-year-old who had a persistent cough."


Whooping cough is an infectious disease that is spread through the air and it starts the same symptoms as a common cold. This includes runny nose watery eyes but unlike the cold the cough will usually last 1-2 weeks and then progress into coughing fits accompanied by a difficulty with breathing or catching your breath and at times these coughing fits may result in throwing up. The whooping cough can lead to hospitalization, other complications and even death. Public Health encourages the community to make sure immunizations are up to date and if you suspect a case of pertusis to immediately seek medical treatment.