(Image source from: Whooping cough lashes Tuscon again)

Southern Arizona is on the verge of a second whooping cough outbreak.

Health officials from Pima County have announced yet another breakout of highly contagious whooping cough in Tucson. Following this, health officials have banned unvaccinated children from attending schools for now.

Officials have declared that unvaccinated students at Sycamore Elementary School who get vaccinated against the whooping cough now can return to school in two weekstime. However, those without their shots, may have to wait for three weeks or more before resuming school again.

The Arizona Daily Star reported five students at Sycamore who were recently infected by whooping cough or 'pertussis'. The 10,000-student Vail district has reported 18 confirmed cases this year alone.

AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury