Whooping cough cases have been increasing in Wisconsin and across the U.S. with 21 confirmed cases according to a Sept. 30 Winnebago County Public Health safety press release.
There was only one confirmed case of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, in Winnebago County in 2023.
The bacteria responsible for pertussis can easily spread from person to person through saliva when they talk, cough, or sneeze. Typically symptoms appear after five to ten days after exposure.
The Winnebago County Public Health recommends that people know the symptoms of pertussis and contact their medical health provider if they experience symptoms or believe they’ve been exposed to someone with it.
Symptoms can include a runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever (between 99.5 F and 100.3 F) and mild, occasional cough.
These symptoms can become uncontrollable, such as violent coughs making it hard to breathe. After coughing, a person with pertussis may need to take deep breaths, causing a “whooping” sound.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) stated that two-thirds of Wisconsin counties have reported at least one case since Jan. 1, and Wisconsinites aged 11 to 18 make up about half of all cases reported as of Sept. 19.
So far, there have been 758 cases of pertussis in Wisconsin compared to 51 last year. Wisconsin saw 2,388 cases in 2022 and 2,116 in 2021.
To avoid contracting or spreading pertussis, the WDHS recommends hand washing often with soap and water for 20 seconds; avoiding touching your nose, eyes and mouth; staying home and away from others if you feel sick; avoiding those who are sick and covering your nose and mouth when you’re about to sneeze or cough.
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself against pertussis, the Winnebago Health Public Health stated. Pertussis affects all ages and can be serious for babies under 1, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. To check your vaccination status, contact your provider or check the Wisconsin Immunization Registry at dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/wir.htm.
Winnebago County Public Health offers the DTAP and Tdap vaccines for eligible individuals. For more info on the Vaccine for Children Program eligibility (VFC) and VFC providers, visit co.winnebago.wi.us/node/2713 or call 920-232-3000.
