Health Officials Report Pertussis Increase Across Oregon

(Astoria, OR) - Oregon Health Authority reports an increase of pertussis cases in multiple counties throughout the state, including Clatsop County.

Health officials ask that folks stay home if they show signs of a cold for more than one week. Those who may have been exposed to whooping cough and have cold symptoms should call their health care provider. They should also avoid contact with pregnant women and children under the age of 1.

"Whooping cough causes severe coughing, and it spreads easily in groups," said Dr. Thomas Duncan, Health Officer for Clatsop County Public Health. "Babies and young children can become very ill and in some cases it can be fatal. That said, anyone - young or old - can become ill."

Anyone who may have been exposed should check their vaccine record, and all family members' records. Make sure that vaccinations are up-to-date and on the record, including diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) or tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. Call your health care provider if there is a question about whether your vaccinations are up-to-date.

Getting Tdap is especially important for pregnant women during the third trimester of each pregnancy. This provides newborns the immunity they need at birth until their first vaccination at 2 months.

Babies and children should get five doses of DTaP for maximum protection. Children receive doses at ages 2, 4 and 6 months, at 15 through 18 months, and again at 4 through 6 years. 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.

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 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. To date, in 2024 there have been reports of 827 cases of pertussis in Oregon. Many more cases go unreported. The main goal of controlling pertussis outbreaks is to decrease the amount of disease and death among babies.

To know more about pertussis (whooping cough), go to www.cdc.gov/pertussis/index.html. For more information, visit ClatsopCounty.gov.

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