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Whooping cough, or pertussis, continues to spread on Whidbey Island, but is limited to the south and central parts of the island.

No cases have been reported in Skagit County, but Island County Health Director Roger Case reported a total of 54 cases, up from one week ago when the island had 41 cases.

Case blames the outbreak on low vaccination rates. He said a number of students in the South Whidbey School District have exemptions from vaccinating, which allows them to go to school.

If an outbreak occurs, the school pulls them, but during the summer students mingle unchecked.

Case said 12.4 percent of South Whidbey students opted to not receive the vaccination and requested an exemption, compared to 5.3 percent in the Coupeville School District and 3.7 percent in the Oak Harbor School District.

Case said many students simply fail to get the multiple shots needed to properly vaccinate. According to Island Health District’s numbers, 20.9 percent of the district is “non-compliant” compared to 10.4 percent in Coupeville and 8 percent in Oak Harbor.

South Whidbey Superintendent Fred McCarthy said many more students are compliant than listed in that number. He said the 20 percent includes incoming kindergarten students who have not been verified yet. He said around 9 percent of students are non-compliant.