Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 --- 9:30 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- Central Wisconsin health care providers are dealing with a large outbreak of whooping cough cases.

Marathon County Health Department epidemiologist Ruth Marx says more than 100 cases have been confirmed this year. She says that during a typical year the department deals with only a handful of cases.

Marx says most healthy children and adults can recover from pertussis, but it can be dangerous for babies and those with weakened immune systems. The health department is working with several area school districts to help prevent the spread of the disease.

Marx tells the Wausau Daily Herald (http://wdhne.ws/HSyGdv ) she doesn't know what caused the current outbreak.

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Information from: Wausau Daily Herald, http://www.wausaudailyherald.com

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.