Health officials report whooping cough outbreak in Malheur County
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Friday, September 6th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
ONTARIO- (Releasde from Malheur County Health Department) The Malheur County Health Department is investigating one confirmed case and three suspected cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Health officials ask anyone who may have had contact with any of the individuals who have whooping cough to stay home if they show signs of a cold for more than one week. Those who may have been exposed and have cold symptoms should call their health care provider. They should also avoid contact with pregnant women and children under the age of one.
“Whooping cough causes severe coughing and it spreads easily in groups,” said Raquel Bennett, RN, Public Health Nurse at Malheur County Health Department. “Babies and young children can become very ill because their airways are so small. In some cases, whooping cough can be fatal for them. That said, anyone — young or old — can become ill.”
Anyone who may have been exposed should check his or her vaccine record, as well as all family members’ records. Make sure that vaccinations are up-to-date, including a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) or tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. Call your healthcare provider if there is a question about whether your vaccinations are up-to-date.
Babies and children should get five doses of DTaP for maximum protection: at ages 2, 4 and 6 months, at 15 to18 months, and again at 4 to 6 years old. Preteens at 11 or 12 years old get a booster dose of Tdap. Teens or adults who didn’t get Tdap as a preteen should get one dose. Getting Tdap is especially important for pregnant women during the third trimester of each pregnancy.
Whooping cough often starts with cold-like symptoms. Early signs may also include a minor cough or fever. People infected with the illness may have coughing fits. After one or two weeks, toddlers with pertussis may have a high-pitched “whoop” following the cough. Coughing fits may be so bad that people may vomit during or after the coughing and be exhausted afterward.
Whooping cough is common in the United States. The number of cases peaks every 3–5 years and there are frequent outbreaks. The main goal of controlling pertussis outbreaks is to decrease the amount of disease and death among babies.
To learn more about pertussis (whooping cough), go to www.cdc.gov/pertussis
