LIBERTY, NY — There are currently 10 confirmed cases of pertussis—also known as whooping cough—in Sullivan County, and the Sullivan County Public Health Department (PHD) is urging residents to make sure their immunizations are up to date.

PHD issued its second release about the matter on June 30, and said patients with the illness are being treated, and the healthcare community is seeking to identify any other cases.

In 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control, there were 592 cases of the illness in the state and an additional 383 in New York City. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease, and even people who have been correctly vaccinated may come down with it, though the symptoms are usually milder.

Symptoms of pertussis include lengthy coughing fits followed by a whooping sound, as patients struggle to catch their breath. Residents who exhibit the symptoms are urged to call their healthcare providers immediately. New York State law mandates that cases of pertussis be reported to the New York State Department of Health.