Whooping cough cases continue to rise in Clark County as school year begins

Whooping cough has continued to spread throughout Clark County this summer, with 183 cases reported since June 1. So far this year, 229 cases have been identified in Clark County — more than the total number of cases over the last five years combined.

With students beginning to return to classrooms, Clark County Public Health is concerned case numbers will continue to rise and students will miss learning time in school. 

“Not only will children who get sick miss time at school, but they can also bring the illness home to their younger siblings,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer and Public Health director. “Young children who aren’t yet old enough to complete their whooping cough vaccinations are less protected against illness. And infants are at the greatest risk of severe illness and hospitalization from whooping cough.”

Whooping cough — or pertussis — is a serious respiratory illness that spreads easily from person to person when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Early symptoms of whooping cough are similar to those of a common cold: runny or stuffy nose, a mild cough, and a low-grade fever. However, one to two weeks after symptoms begin, people can develop violent coughing fits that leave them gasping for air afterward. Babies with whooping cough may not cough but instead have life-threatening pauses in breathing, gagging or gasping

In Clark County, 30 infants are among the cases of whooping cough so far this year, and more than 100 of the cases are children younger than 5 years old. One person younger than 18 has been hospitalized due to whooping cough. 

People with whooping cough are contagious as soon as their first cold-like symptoms begin, so they can spread the illness to others before realizing they are infected. The best way to prevent getting whooping cough and spreading it to others is to get vaccinated. People who are vaccinated may still be able to get whooping cough, but their illness is usually less severe.

Of the 229 cases identified so far this year, 65% have never been vaccinated against whooping cough.

People who develop symptoms of whooping cough should contact their health care provider for testing and treatment. Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics, which can help reduce the severity of illness and prevent spreading the illness to others. People who live with someone who has whooping cough can also get antibiotics to help prevent infection.

Children who get whooping cough are excluded from school until they are no longer contagious. A person is no longer contagious after completing five days of antibiotics. Without antibiotics, a person with whooping cough is considered contagious for three weeks after the cough begins. 

Whooping cough vaccination is recommended for all babies, children, preteens and pregnant women. And adults who have never received a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine should get one.

Babies need three doses of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccine, given at 2, 4 and 6 months old, to build protection. They then receive two additional doses as young children — one at 15-18 months old, the second at 4-6 years — to maintain that protection.

Preteens should get one dose of Tdap when they’re 11-12 years old to boost their protection. And pregnant women should get a Tdap booster during the third trimester of every pregnancy. This helps to protect the baby from whooping cough in the first few months of life.