Public school officials in Abilene have confirmed the third case of whooping cough in the past two weeks.

They’re encouraging parents to check the immunization status of themselves and their children.

The Abilene Reflector-Chronicle  reports the latest case of whooping cough – also called pertussis – was confirmed this week at Kennedy Elementary School. The other two were confirmed last week at the city’s high school and middle school.

Pertussis is a highly contagious disease marked by violent, uncontrollable coughing that can make it hard for the sufferer to breathe. Young children tend to have the most severe symptoms.

The Abilene school nurse says that she and a county health department nurse vaccinated several staff members at Kennedy Elementary this week.