KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Wyandotte County Public Health Department announced Friday that it has seen an increase in cases of whooping cough (pertussis).

As of Oct. 17, there have been 75 reported cases of whooping cough in Kansas. The health department is asking community members and health care providers to take action to reduce the spread of whooping cough and other respiratory illnesses.

"We have seen multiple cases of whooping cough recently, and we are working with those individuals and people close to them to see if other people may have been exposed," said Terrie Garrison, interim director of the Wyandotte County Public Health Department.

"We also know whooping cough is on the rise in our region and has been higher across the U.S. in recent years. It's important that people in our

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