Madison Reporter

Public Health Madison & Dane County has issued a warning regarding an outbreak of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. Over the past eight weeks, 43 cases have been reported in Dane County, predominantly among teenagers.

“Vaccines have made cases of pertussis rare; in fact, we go many months out of the year without a single case. So to see these kinds of numbers is significant, and we are urging the community to take this increase seriously,” stated Amanda Kita-Yarbro, Epidemiologist for Public Health Madison & Dane County.

Pertussis is characterized by a persistent cough and is caused by a bacterial infection that spreads easily. While anyone can contract it, it poses serious risks to infants and individuals with compromised immune systems. Even those fully vaccinated against pertussis can still contract the illness due to waning immunity over time. However, the vaccine's effectiveness is evident as severe illness or hospitalization has not been observed among those affected.

“Initial symptoms of pertussis are like a common cold, so during this time it’s common for people to choose to go about their daily routine. This unfortunately can lead to others being exposed before a diagnosis happens. Then, after about a week, the cough can get much worse, for some people making it hard to breathe,” added Kita-Yarbro.

Public Health advises several preventive measures:

- **Check vaccination status:** Ensure that you and your children are up-to-date with the DTaP vaccine (for children) and Tdap vaccine (for adolescents and adults). Vaccination records can be checked on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR).

- **If exposed or symptomatic:** Consult your healthcare provider immediately if you suspect exposure or exhibit symptoms of pertussis. Note that the characteristic “whoop” sound may not be present in teenagers and adults or even in all infants and young children. In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed for close contacts of infected individuals even before symptoms appear.

- **Practice good hygiene:** Stay home if you are sick. Cover your mouth with a tissue or cough into your sleeve when coughing and wash your hands frequently.

For those not up-to-date on immunizations, appointments can be made with medical providers or local pharmacies. Public Health offers free vaccinations for children on BadgerCare and those who are uninsured.