Czech authorities report local outbreaks of whooping cough

The Czech health authorities have reported local outbreaks of whooping cough in unvaccinated children in some regions of the country. The highly contagious infection can be accompanied by serious complications in the form of pneumonia with a risk of heart failure. This year doctors have diagnosed  127 cases of whooping cough, double the number of cases registered last year, the State Health Institute warned on Friday. Local outbreaks have been recorded in Hradec Králové, Liberec and other regions.