Hospitals have seen a rapid rise in cases being reported over the last few months.

While many may think the problem stems from under-immunisatrion, Doctor Jonny Taits, from The Sydney Children's Hospital told Sunrise this morning that even immunised children are at risk.

Has your baby had Whooping Cough? Tell us below...

"I think parents should be concerned about the potential for the outbreak," he said.

"Immunisation is highly effective but not completely effective - sometimes parents forget that and assume once their kids have been immunised they will be protected for life."

The disease can cause serious damage to internal organs and even death.

On the rise

Whooping Cough has reportedly affected 1700 people in Queensland this year - nearly 300 more cases than last year.

Importantly, Thirty six of those 1700 cases were in babies under the age of six months.

Nationally this year, 9662 whooping cough cases have been reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. NSW has had 4933 cases, compared with Queensland's 1674 and Victoria's 1268.

What you can do

• Early symptoms are similar to a cold with runny nose, tiredness and sometimes a mild fever. Coughing is followed by a deep gasp, or "whoop", and sometimes vomiting. Coughing may continue for many weeks.
• Remember, newborn babies are not vaccinated until they are eight weeks old, meaning they are very vulnerable to the infection in their early days.
• While not all parents use it, most doctors recommend vaccinating babies at two, four and six months, with a booster shot when they are four years old.
• Epidemics of this kinds tend to occur every three to four years.
• The vaccine is free as part of the National Immunisation Program Schedule for children aged two, four and six months. The vaccine is part of the combined diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis shot (DTPa).

More info

Search Whooping Cough on Yahoo!7 ANSWERS

Whooping Cough on Yahoo!7 PARENTING

Number of whooping cough case rise (AAP via Yahoo!7 News)