In the first quarter of this year, the numbers of cases of Whooping Cough more than doubled in Santa Cruz, over the 2017 numbers. County health officer Doctor Arnold Leff said that Pertussis is covered in the D-taP shot given to babies that are 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 12 months-old….and then they are given booster shots again before kindergarten and middle school. Whooping C ough often starts with a mild cough, runny nose, or fever, it tends to move on to vomiting, exhaustion, and paroxysms of rapid coughs, followed by the high pitched “whoop” sound. About 50 percent of babies who get whooping cough will need to be hospitalized. For more information, people can call their local physician or go on-line to: