NSW Health warns of whooping cough outbreak

New South Wales Health is warning of an outbreak of whooping cough in the state.

The Health Department says infection rates have increased from 2,000 cases last year, to 3,800 cases this year, and babies are the most vulnerable.

Dr Mitchell Smith from the department says the increase is worse in some areas.

"We think that also were seeing a reflection of low immunisation rates in parts of New South Wales, particularly in the north coast and parts of western Sydney,"he said.

"And secondly, peoples immunisation does tend to wane with time."

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