After three months in non-outbreak status, Whitman County Public Health reported a pertussis, or whooping cough, outbreak on Friday. It's investigating two cases in which patients were infected from the same source or exposure, putting Whitman County back in outbreak status.
The health department said people should talk to their health care provider if they have been in close contact with someone who has pertussis.
Pertussis is a bacterial infection that is particularly dangerous to infants under a year old. It starts with cold-like symptoms before developing into a severe cough.
A person is considered a close contact if they live in the same household as an infected person, or spent several hours with someone who was symptomatic.
Direct contact with droplets from an infected person, such as coughs, sneezes, sharing utensils or kissing also constitute a close contact.
Pertussis cases that are caught early can be treated with antibiotics to reduce the risk of spreading it to others.
People with whooping cough should isolate until they have completed at least five days of antibiotic treatment, or stay home for 21 days after the onset of symptoms to avoid spreading the infection.
Immunizations are the most effective way to prevent pertussis. For infants, the DTaP vaccine is given in a series of five doses. Adolescents between the ages of 11 and 12 years old should receive the Tdap immunization to provide continued protection against pertussis.
If someone has never received a Tdap booster, a single dose is recommended for adults. It is also recommended for pregnant women during the third trimester to protect newborns before they can receive their vaccinations.
