LINWOOD ‐ Two students at Mainland Regional High School have been diagnosed with Pertussis, or whooping cough, according to a report on PressofAtlanticCity.com.

A third student suspected of having the disease doesn't, a health official told the website.

The first two students and their family members have since been vaccinated; one has been cleared to return to school, the report said.

The school was cleaned and disinfected, though Pertussis spreads through the air by a sneeze or cough. It doesn't spread through contact with desks, computers or other items commonly found in schools.

New Jersey has had fewer cases this year than at the same point a year ago.

Nationally, the Center for Disease Control reported more than 17,000 cases of Pertussis nationwide from Jan. 1 to Aug. 16 of this year, a 30 percent year-over-year increase over 2013.

The disease hit New Jersey and the nation particularly hard two years ago when 48,777 cases were reported.

While a whopping cough starts out as a common cold, a person's coughing will intensify after a week or two.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.