As whooping cough cases rise in the U.S., a new nasal vaccine developed by Tulane University may hold the key to reducing the spread of the highly contagious respiratory disease. Current pertussis vaccines are widely used and effective at preventing whooping cough,

Nearly half of this year's cases were among people who had never received a dose of whooping cough vaccines, Oregon officials said.

Oregon health officials are alarmed over the state's rising pertussis case count, which is expected to beat the state's record, Oregon Health Authority announced Thursday.