CDHD Concerned About Pertussis Outbreak

Check Your Vaccination Status

The Central District Health Department (CDHD) has been tracking a number of pertussis (Whooping Cough) cases in Mountain Home since mid-September. To date there have been eight cases, of which six were teenagers and two were adults.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that physicians initiate antibiotic treatment as soon as pertussis is suspected. Patients diagnosed with pertussis should also remain isolated at home until they have been on appropriate antibiotics for five days. As a further prevention measure, household contacts of pertussis cases should take a preventive antibiotic, regardless of age or vaccination status.

“Our concern is that despite our outreach efforts, we are still getting reports of pertussis.” Said Nikki Sakata, Program Manager for Communicable Disease Control at CDHD. “With students traveling for sports and other activities, and with the holidays coming up, the possibility of spreading the disease outside Mountain Home increases.”

Pertussis is a highly communicable, vaccine-preventable disease that lasts for many weeks and is most dangerous to newborns and infants. Pertussis starts with cold-like symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough. Within two weeks, a severe cough can develop with violent coughing spells. A coughing person with pertussis may have a hard time catching his or her breath during a coughing spell and make a "crowing" sound or high-pitched "whoop."

Older children or adults may have less severe symptoms. People with a cough are contagious for three weeks if untreated and for five days after treatment has begun.

Persons experiencing symptoms of pertussis should consult their health care provider. Tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis. Care should be taken to limit exposure to other people through good cough hygiene, such as covering the mouth when coughing and washing hands often.

Many cases of pertussis are linked to unrecognized adult cases of the disease. Pertussis immunizations received during early childhood do not provide lifetime protection, nor does having pertussis in the past provide lifetime immunity. The CDC recommends children and adults from 11 to 64 years of age now be vaccinated with a newly licensed vaccine booster for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (known as the Tdap vaccine). The new vaccine helps protect adolescents and adults from pertussis and also reduces the risk of transmitting pertussis to infants and those most at risk of developing serious or life-threatening complications. CDHD offers the Tdap vaccine for $61.00 for a single dose.

For more information on immunizations for pertussis contact your medical provider or call the CDHD Immunization Nurse line at 327-8615. Information is also available on the CDHD website.