At least three Whidbey Island teams are out are out of Little League tournaments and a fourth is in question after an outbreak of whooping cough on the southern end of the island.

National Little League officials told the Whidbey Island teams Thursday to stay home from a postseason all-star tournament after a recommendation from the Island County Health District.

One team, consisting of players ages 13 and older, is appealing the decision, according to Little League District Coordinator Paul Williams.

Island County Health Officer Roger Case said the team could continue to play if all the players became immunized and took antibiotics.

Williams said the decision about the older team is ultimately up to Little League officials, who as of Thursday evening, had not issued a decision.

The action follows an outbreak of 25 cases of whooping cough confined mainly to the southern end of Whidbey Island, though there are some cases in other parts of the island.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, initially looks like a cold, but eventually develops violent coughs leaving the infected individual gasping for breath or vomiting. Whooping cough is most contagious indoors. The infection spreads through inhaled droplets.