Washington State — Pertussis cases are surging in Washington state, with nearly 1,200 cases reported so far this year, compared to 51 cases reported this time last year, according to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). exceeds.
The state health department is warning the public about a “surge” in cases of whooping cough, a highly contagious bacterial infection commonly known as whooping cough. As of early November, the DOH announced that 1,193 cases had been reported in 31 of 39 counties across the state.
of Whooping cough data for November The deaths included 28 people hospitalized, including 12 infants under the age of 1, who health experts say are the most at risk.
“The surge in pertussis cases is a stark reminder of how important vaccination is to protect our most vulnerable, especially infants with potentially life-threatening conditions,” said Pediatrician and DOH Chief said Dr. Thao Sheng Kwanget, scientific director. . “To protect your baby from whooping cough, people of all ages should be up-to-date on the whooping cough vaccine and see their health care provider if they have symptoms to see if they need testing or antibiotic treatment. You should.”
DOH’s chief scientific officer says vaccination is the most effective way to prevent serious illness caused by whooping cough and urges families and caregivers of young children, including infants, to ensure they have up-to-date pertussis vaccines. We are calling on you to check. Pregnant women are “strongly recommended” to receive the Tdap vaccine to help protect their newborns.
According to the CDC, adults should receive additional doses of Tdap or Td every 10 years to maintain protection against tetanus and diphtheria.
DOH is closely monitoring the situation and cooperating with local health authorities. state’s pediatric vaccine program Provide free or low-cost vaccinations to children under 19.
Symptoms of whooping cough (whooping cough), According to the Centers for Disease Control:
- It usually takes 5 to 10 days for symptoms to appear after exposure to the bacteria that causes whooping cough. In some cases, symptoms may not appear for up to three weeks.
- Have cold-like symptoms
In the early stages of whooping cough, symptoms resemble those of a cold. Healthcare providers often do not suspect or diagnose it until more severe symptoms appear.
Initial symptoms may last 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:
- runny or stuffy nose
- Low-grade fever (less than 100.4F)
- mild, occasional cough
- baby may have difficulty breathing
Many babies with whooping cough do not cough at all. Instead, apnea (life-threatening cessation of breathing) may occur. Apnea may cause cyanosis (blue coloring) and difficulty breathing.
For some babies, whooping cough can look like a cold, not just in the early stages but throughout the disease.
Subsequent symptoms:
- rapid, violent, uncontrollable coughing fits
Attacks known as cough attacks may occur 1 to 2 weeks after the first symptoms begin. These cough attacks usually last one to six weeks, but can last up to 10 weeks. Coughs generally worsen and become more frequent as the illness continues.
A coughing attack can cause the following symptoms:
- Making a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing in after coughing
- Vomiting during or after a coughing attack
- I feel very tired after the fit, but it usually seems to be between fits
- can’t sleep at night
- difficulty breathing
- fracture (fracture) a rib
People who have had such cough attacks say it’s the worst cough they’ve ever had in their lives.
According to the CDC, there was an increase in reported cases of whooping cough across the United States in 2024.
The agency says this marks a return to more typical trends. “According to preliminary data, as of the 44th week reported on November 2, 2024, more than five times as many cases have been reported compared to the same period in 2023. , more than the number of cases reported on November 2, 2024, during the same period in 2019, before the pandemic,” according to the CDC website.
Health experts from Women’s Medicine said at a press conference last month that many children, especially by the time they enter kindergarten, are “under-vaccinated” and that low vaccination rates among young children are preventing them from getting measles, 100,000 It warned that an outbreak of Japanese cough is expected. That’s significantly lower than before the pandemic.
Currently, Chelan, Clark, and Whitman counties have the highest pertussis rates per DOH.
