With pertussis cases on the rise every month this year, the Tacoma-Pierce County Department of Health is urging all residents to be vaccinated the disease, also known as whooping cough.

There have not been any deaths associated with the illness, but the Department of Health reports 90 confirmed cases so far this year. In all of 2011, there were only 128 cases of the disease. In 2010 there were 84 cases.

Officials reported 14 confirmed cases in January, jumping to 30 in February and 46 i n March.

To help battle the disease, the Department of Health is urging all adults and children to be vaccinated.

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing that can make it difficult for a patient to breath, resulting in a deep, “whooping” sound when they try to take a breath.