Nine Cases Of Whooping Cough Reported At Cary-Grove

CHICAGO (CBS) -- An outbreak of whooping-cough has sickened nine students over the past month at Cary-Grove High School, McHenry County health officials confirmed.

All of the students have been treated with antibiotics, officials said.

Whooping cough is a contagious bacterial infection that can spread through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms can occur up to three weeks after exposure.

Symptoms can develop into bursts of rapid coughs with a distinctive "whooping" sound. The infection is typically mild but can be dangerous for small children who haven't been properly immunized, officials say.

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