SAN DIEGO -- A 7-year-old Chula Vista elementary school student has been diagnosed with whooping cough, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced Monday.

County health officials are working with the district to notify the parents of children at Discovery Charter Elementary School who may have come into contact with the sick child.

So far this year, there have been 83 cases of whooping cough in San Diego County, compared to 51 cases last year.

"We continue to see an increased amount of whopping cough cases this year," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.

"It's extremely important for parents to ensure that they and their children are protected against vaccine preventable diseases including whooping cough," Wooten said. "No vaccine provides 100 percent protection against infections, but being immunized often makes the symptoms less severe if a person does become ill."

According to the HHSA, the infected student was up-to-date with vaccinations.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts with flu-like symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, fever and a mild cough. The symptoms may be mild and brief, or last up to two weeks, but are often followed by severe coughing fits that may be associated with vomiting. It is treated using antibiotics.