Oklahoma medical news briefs

Oklahoma parents can learn more about their children's health while their kids enjoy face-painting, basketball and other activities at the OU Children's Physicians “Grow Strong and Healthy” Health Expo on Friday.

The event, which is offered at no cost to participants, targets children ages 5 to 12 and will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in The Children's Hospital Atrium on the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center campus in Oklahoma City.

To help better inform parents about family health needs, OU Children's Physicians will offer free health screenings and educational materials at the expo.

Kids, meanwhile, will have plenty of opportunities for fun, with activities such as face painting, basketball, bingo and the moon bounce.

Health officials

work to prevent

whooping cough

The Oklahoma City-County Health Department is reminding residents to make sure they are up-to-date on vaccinations.

While the numbers of whooping cough, or pertussis, cases in Oklahoma are low, outbreaks in other states are raising concerns about the possibility that the disease could spread.

Whooping cough is a serious illness that can affect people of any age, but infants and young children are at greatest risk. Even with early vaccinations, infants don't develop a strong immunity to whooping cough until they are older. Anyone who might have contact with babies should be vaccinated.