ATLANTA -- An Atlanta research partnership responsible for the South's first human hand transplant has secured a new $31 million federal grant to continue a coalition launched five years ago.

The Clinical & Translational Science Institute is a partnership led by Emory University. It also includes other major health care and research players like Georgia Tech, Morehouse School of Medicine, Grady Health System and the VA Medical Center.

The alliance was formed to connect a range of researchers, technology developers and medical professionals who actually treat people. The idea is to help research from clinical and laboratory settings translate into better outcomes for patients.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Immunizations are not just for children.  Adults also need to be current with their vaccinations.  In recognition of National Immunization Month, Fulton County Health Services is promoting adult immunizations.  Immunizations are important so that adults may protect themselves and those they are in close contact with from serious diseases and illnesses. 

The need for adult immunizations is determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, high-risk conditions, type and locations of travel, and previous immunizations. Throughout an adult’s life, immunizations are needed to maintain protection against diseases and illnesses such as the flu, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and shingles.  Adults should talk to their health care provider about needed vaccines.

ATLANTA -- Health officials say the nation is on track to have the worst year for whooping cough in more than five decades.

Nearly 18,000 cases have been reported so far -- more than twice the number seen at this point last year. At this pace, the number of whooping cough cases will surpass every year since 1959.

"There is a lot of this out there, and there may be more coming to place near you," Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

Wisconsin and Washington state each have reported more than 3,000 cases, and high numbers have been seen in a number of other states, including New York, Minnesota, Kansas and Arizona.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial disease. It leads to severe coughing that causes children to make a distinctive whooping sound as they gasp for breath. In rare cases it can be fatal, and nine children have died so far this year.