Health Department: Possible case of whooping cough reported

The Laclede County Health Department is advising people to take precautions after it was notified of a possible whooping cough case in the county. Health Department Administrator Charla Baker said Thursday that their office is waiting on laboratory results that could confirm the possible case of whooping cough, also known as pertussis. “We are calling it a probable case right now, but we are waiting on laboratory confirmation,” she said. “We do have several surrounding counties and other counties across the state we are being told have definitely seen an increase in cases.” For more on this story, see Saturday's LCR.