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Whooping cough has been a big issue in Virginia over the past couple years but now, health officials are optimistic that these infections won’t continue to spread.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection.it causes severe coughing fits.

The state’s Secretary Of Health says those who were sick this year were able to get the vaccinations needed to control the infection.

The vaccinations make those sick less contagious to those around them

They do not cure the cough itself once symptoms have started.

Bill Hazel says doctors throughout the community have been working hard to keep everyone safe.

“Infections were contained, and so far, no secondary infections have happened, so I think that it’s lessons learned, you know we have to work together in these situations to try and solve the problem at hand,” says Hazel.

The fight to contain infections is made more difficult because whooping cough symptoms can often look similar to that of a cold.

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