APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) - Outagamie County Public Health is asking families now to take precautions against pertussis and other respiratory viruses as we head into colder weather.

It wants to avoid another whooping cough outbreak like it saw last January and February.

Public Health nursing supervisor Lillian Wegner says viruses spreading in classrooms can be brought home to small children, who are more vulnerable to severe symptoms.

Just under three-fourths of 2-year-olds in Outagamie County are vaccinated against pertussis, she said.

“It may seem like everyone has a cough or runny nose during this time of the year,” Wegner said, “but with kids in school right now, they are spending a lot of time in close contact with other kids, and diseases can spread faster.”

Pertussis is spread by s

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