Whooping cough on rise in Illawarra

Late last month parents at a southern Wollongong primary school were also notified of two cases of the highly infectious bacterial disease that causes severe bouts of coughing.

In adults the symptoms can be mild, but if the infection is spread to a baby who is not yet vaccinated, it can be life-threatening.

NSW Health figures show whooping cough notifications across the state have more than trebled this year; with 2779 notifications so far, compared to 911 in the same period last year.

That number was expected to rise over the winter months.