Reported cases of whooping cough on the rise

NATIONAL -- Whooping cough numbers are on the rise in the U.S., and are the highest they have ever been in the past 50 years.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said more than 18,000 cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, have been reported this year.

That's twice as many cases as the same time last year.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection.

Kids usually start the vaccination process during infancy.