Omaha, NE - All 110 students in a Creighton University Pharmacy class have been tested for whooping cough.  Five students tested positive and everyone is now being treated with antibiotics. Even students who are not sick are being treated, as a precaution.  The University started testing and treating the students after the first case was confirmed.  Classes continue today as scheduled.  

Whooping cough can cause severe coughing spells in children, symptoms are less severe for adults.

Most children are vaccinated for whooping cough as babies, and the Centers for Disease Control now recommends adults get another shot as they get older.  "We have been seeing a resurgence of whooping cough across the nation particularly since 2001. It's because of that resurgence that they (CDC) have added the whooping cough component to the adult tetanus vaccine," says Douglas County Health Department Epidemiologist Carol Allensworth.  

Creighton recommends that all students get the vaccine, but it is not mandatory.  The vaccine is available on campus.  

Reported by Carrie Murphy, cmurphy@action3news.com