(WJW) - Lorain County Public Health is monitoring an outbreak of pertussis in Lorain County, health officials confirmed on Friday.

According to the notice, pertussis, more commonly called whooping cough, is currently spreading in the southern region of the county.

The bacterial infection, according to Lorain County Public Health, "affects the airways and spreads easily through direct contact with respiratory secretions (through coughing and sneezing) from an infected person."

Health officials warned that pertussis can be serious, especially among babies younger than a year old, pregnant women and immunocompromised people.

Early symptoms, normally lasting one to two weeks, will typically resemble the common cold with a runny nose, fever and a mild cough.

Later symptoms, however, can le

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