College Football Game Canceled Over Whooping Cough Case and Exposure: Officials

The CDC says that whooping cough sufferers say ‘it’s the worst cough of their lives.’

An undated image produced by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a whooping cough, or pertussis, bacteria cluster. US CDC

A case of whooping cough resulted in the cancellation of a college football game between South Dakota and Portland State on Saturday, officials said.

Whooping cough, caused by the pertussis bacteria, impacts the respiratory system and can cause coughing fits that can last weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Considered highly contagious, health officials say that whooping cough is particularly dangerous for younger children, especially infants.