Whooping cough cases once again on the rise in Western North Carolina

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Just like in the spring, pertussis (more commonly known as whooping cough) cases are on the rise in Buncombe County and all across the state, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control.

On Sept. 24, Buncombe County Health and Human Services issued a public health alert in response to a multi-school outbreak of whooping cough spreading across the county. Currently, 18 cases have been confirmed since Aug. 12, Buncombe County Health and Human Services reported, and many cases are still under investigation.

At this time, spread is primarily occurring in school-age children in all areas of the county.

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Near the end of May, Henderson County at one time had close to 120 whooping cough cases, but the cases dropped over the summer months. According to Henderson County Department of Public Health spokesperson Andrew Mundhenk, the last reported case in Henderson County was on Aug. 10.

“We did receive the alert from Buncombe County stating they are seeing an increase in pertussis cases, similar to what we saw in the spring,” Mundhenk told News 13. “We will continue our active surveillance activities as increases in neighboring counties often result in cases in Henderson County residents.”

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection that spreads through coughs and sneezes. Often, early symptoms are mild, like a common cold, and can include the following:

• Runny nose
• Low fever
• Sneezing
• Mild cough

According to the CDC, symptoms after one to two weeks can quickly worsen and last for months. They include bad coughing attacks that may lead to the following:

• A “whoop” sound
• Vomiting
• Problems breathing
• Difficulty sleeping
• Extreme tiredness

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Infants under 12 months and individuals with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of severe complications and even death.

Buncombe County Health Director Dr. Ellis Matheson said the multi-school outbreak of whooping cough cases have tripled in the last month.

“If we are to stop the spread of the bacteria, people should monitor for even basic symptoms of whooping cough such as a runny nose and cough and get tested and treated when advised by their medical provider. We are relying on individuals, families and medical providers to make these important decisions to help contain the spread,” Matheson said in a news release.

According to the release, Buncombe County Public Health remains in communication with parents, schools, childcares, and medical providers to share information on possible exposure, prevention measures and treatment protocols.

Residents can call Buncombe County Health and Human Services or their primary care provider to schedule a vaccination appointment. For more information on whooping cough and vaccination guidelines, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.