SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico is seeing an increase in whooping cough cases this year. The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) said the number of whooping cough cases in New Mexico this year is almost twice as many as the number last year – reflecting the same dramatic increase in whooping cough cases nationwide. According to the NMDOH and CDC, there are 60 whooping cough cases in the state as of Oct. 26. NMDOH said most of these cases have been reported from the Albuquerque metro area, but all regions of the state have reported at least one case since this summer. Story continues below Trending: Woman accused of driving drunk and hitting Albuquerque firefighter with vehicle Podcast: Meteorologists Tackle Weather Misinformation News: Another locally-owned supermarket coming to International District Community: ‘He protected her’: New Mexico dog burned while shielding other dog in fire On the national level, the CDC reports as of October 19, there have already been more than five times as many whooping cough cases in the United States than there were in the same time period last year. Pertussis – better known as whooping cough – is highly contagious. It spreads from respiratory droplets that can happen naturally anytime a person coughs or sneezes. A person infected can spread it to other people for 21 days after their cough starts or until they complete five days of an appropriate antibiotic. “Pertussis is extremely dangerous in infants, especially those under six months old,” Dr. Chad Smelser, deputy state epidemiologist for NMHealth, said in a news release. “Young infants can sometimes show other symptoms such as gagging, eye-bulging, or apnea - where a child’s breathing pauses for a period of time long enough to worry a caregiver.” Anyone needing testing for pertussis should contact their primary care physician or local medical provider, according to NMDOH.