Whooping cough spreading in Clark County, officials worried as school begins

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Whooping cough cases are on the rise throughout Clark County officials warn, with a total number of cases this year greater than the last five years combined.

According to Clark County Public Health, there have been 229 cases reported this year, with 183 of those cases reported since June 1.

Whooping cough can be exceedingly dangerous, especially to infants who can have life-threatening complications from the illness officials warn, and since the school year is beginning, the illness will have a much easier time spreading.

“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, also known as pertussis, is spread through the air by breath, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms are similar to the common cold, officials warn, but after two weeks people can have violent coughing fits that leave them gasping for air.

65% of cases this year have been people who are unvaccinated against Whooping Cough, with 30 cases being infants and over 100 cases being children under five, officials said.

People with symptoms are urged to contact health care providers for treatment with antibiotics which can help reduce the severity of the sickness, officials said.

Any children who get whooping cough are excluded from school until they are no longer contagious which can take five days with antibiotics or up to three weeks without them officials said.