Pertussis cases spiking in Douglas County

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – The Douglas County Health Department said Wednesday that cases of pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,” have spiked in recent weeks.

About a month ago, DCHD said 15 cases had been reported so far this year, with the Nebraska Health Department reporting 51 cases throughout this state. The Douglas County number hit 60 as of Tuesday.

The latest cases push the county well above the annual average of 39 reported between 2015 and 2019.

School-aged children — ages 7 to 19 — account for 80% of those cases, which has resulted in more than 6,000 other people potentially exposed to the highly contagious bacteria, according to the health department release.

Once a leading cause of childhood deaths in the past century, widespread vaccination efforts significantly reduced the number of cases, Justin Frederick, DCHD deputy health director, said in an update last month.

It’s recommended that infants ages 15-18 months and children ages 2, 4, and 6 receive a DTaP vaccination, which guards against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; with follow-up boosters recommended for youth ages 11-12. This vaccination is also recommended for pregnant women at 27-36 weeks into the pregnancy.

Those who may have been exposed to pertussis are advised to isolate.

“Given the rapid surge in pertussis cases, it is critical that our community strictly adheres to public health guidance,” he said in Wednesday’s release.

DCHD says the vaccination is also recommended for parents and siblings of infants, or anyone else who might be spending time around infants.

“We know that many individuals are not up-to-date with their vaccinations,” Frederick said in last month’s release. “Vaccination is the best protection for your family.”

Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics, and those who may have been exposed can receive preventative treatment. Those diagnosed are advised to stay home for at least five days after they start treatment.

The CDC reported on Nov. 2 that five times as many cases had been reported nationwide as of that week when compared to the same week in 2023. As of that report, Nebraska had 130 reported cases so far this year, up from last month’s reported total of 42; while Iowa has reported 166, up from 18 recorded last month.

Comparatively, Iowa reported 52 cases in 2023; Nebraska reported 13 cases last year.

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