Pertussis cases up in Douglas County
Health Department recommends vaccination
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The Douglas County Health Department advised Tuesday that cases of pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,” are on the rise in the area.
So far this year, 15 cases have been reported — more than were reported in 2020, but still less than half the annual average of 39 reported between 2015 and 2019.
“Pertussis was once a leading cause of childhood deaths in the past century, but widespread vaccination efforts have significantly reduced the number of cases,” Justin Frederick, DCHD deputy health director, said in a Tuesday news release.
According to health officials, the best way to guard against pertussis, “caused by highly contagious bacteria,” is through vaccination. It’s recommended that infants ages 15-18 months and children ages 2, 4, and 6 receive a DTaP vaccination, which guards against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; with follow-up boosters recommended for youth ages 11-12. This vaccination is also recommended for pregnant women at 27-36 weeks into the pregnancy.
DCHD says the vaccination is also recommended for parents and siblings of infants, or anyone else who might be spending time around infants.
“We know that many individuals are not up-to-date with their vaccinations,” Frederick said in Tuesday’s release. “Vaccination is the best protection for your family.”
Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics, and those who may have been exposed can receive preventative treatment. Those diagnosed are advised to stay home for at least five days after they start treatment.
CDC data posted Sept. 28 shows that Nebraska has reported 42 cases to date — six of them in that last week — while Iowa has reported 18 so far this year.
Comparatively, Iowa had reported 44 by this same time last year; Nebraska reported 13 cases in all of 2023. Those levels put Iowa at about the same number of cases per 100,000 people as the national average of 1.6, up from 0.7 in 2022. Meanwhile, Nebraska’s rates were just about the opposite, measuring 0.7 in 2023 — about half what the state saw in 2022, when the national average was 0.7.
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