Whooping cough reported in county

Published 10:15 am Thursday, June 25, 2015

JOHN DAY – The Grant County Health Department reports there are three confirmed cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in the county which started at the beginning of June.

In addition to the three cases a number of other families with symptoms are being treated for whooping cough while awaiting test results.

County and state public health officials recommend individuals age 2 months and older should receive regular DTaP vaccinations (for children through age 6) as well as one routine TDaP booster (every 10 years for adolescents and adults, starting at age 10) to protect themselves and those around them from whooping cough, especially people who are in contact with infants.

The health department, 528 E. Main, will hold a special DTaP/TDaP vaccination clinic from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, July 10.

The immunizations will be offered for minimal to no cost, and free for people without insurance. The staff can also check to see if a person’s vaccination schedule is up to date through the online ALERT Immunization Information System.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by bacteria.

Experts say pertussis is dangerous, even fatal, for infants who are too young to be immunized. Since 2003, babies less than 1 year old accounted for greater than 80 percent of pertussis hospitalizations in Oregon. Five of those babies, all younger than three months of age, died.

The Centers for Disease Control said pertussis symptoms begin with a runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and mild cough. The cough gradually becomes more severe, and after a week or two, the second stage of the illness begins. That stage is often characterized by violent coughing spasms ending with a gasp or “whoop” as the patient tries to get air. Sometimes the bursts of coughing results in vomiting. This stage of the illness may persist for up to 10 weeks.

The health department said the best way to protect yourself and your family from the disease is to get vaccinated.

Pertussis is a required immunization in Oregon schools, but the disease is making a comeback. In 2012, the number of reported cases in Oregon reached the highest annual count since 1953. There were 910 reported cases. In 2014, California declared a whooping cough epidemic with 8,749 confirmed cases. One infant died in the outbreak.

For more information on pertussis, visit http://1.usa.gov/vpdpertussis. To obtain a pertussis vaccination, call the Grant County Health Department at 541-575-0429.