Colorado is experiencing one of its worst whooping cough outbreaks in several decades.

According to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, several hundred confirmed cases of whooping cough – also known as pertussis – have been reported in many of Colorado’s metropolitan centers.

In neighboring Wyoming, however, the severe respiratory disease has been kept under control for the most part.

Kim Deti is with the Wyoming Department of Health. She says, despite an elevated number of whooping cough cases regionally, only a few isolated cases have been reported in Wyoming.

"We've only had a handful of cases this year," Deti said. "We've had less than 10 confirmed cases so far this year, so, we're not seeing any great increase in activity like they're seeing in Colorado."

Deti, however, recommends that Wyoming residents stay up to date with their whooping cough vaccinations.

"It's especially important is for pregnant women and people who are around infants - infants cannot get the vaccine right away, and it take a while for people to get fully vaccinated," Deti said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease can be fatal to infants.

The CDC says mild whooping cough symptoms include runny nose and fever. Severe symptoms include violent coughing fits, exhaustion and vomiting.

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