As soon as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared that the US is facing the highest rates of whooping cough cases, the Ulster County health Department has started to suggest people get a vaccine sooner as possible, a recent report finds.

Since because it is a fact that the illness mainly targets children and infants, families with them are being warned on priority. It has been told by the CDC members that the cases are higher than noticed in the last five years and are thus of huge concern.

The team has reported some 18,000 cases this year alone along with almost nine deaths, while saying that such a fast rate has never been seen before since 1959.

Pertussis or whooping cough is a disease that can easily spread with sneeze or cough droplets. As per the National Institutes of Health, starting from mild cough, it leads to violent coughing and breathing problems. Although, the disease bug is uncontrollable, such symptoms must not be taken lightly as the illness may prove fatal sometimes.

The department further is suggesting infants should be made to receive vaccinations against the disease. Also, adults should go for a booster shot with no more delays.