Whooping cough outbreak reported

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Health officials are warning about a whooping cough outbreak in part of our region.

WSAZ has confirmed an internal memo being shared on social media platforms was sent to Marshall Health Network staff.

According to the memo, there have been four confirmed cases reported at Hurricane High School in Putnam County, as well as additional cases in Cabell County and Lawrence County, Ohio.

According to Putnam County Health Department officials, one confirmed case has been reported within the county.

Hurricane High School sent parents a text advising them to visit Schoology or the HHS Facebook page for information regarding recent cases of whooping cough in their community.

WSAZ is also attempting to reach out to health officials in Lawrence County, Ohio, for more information.

Officials with the Cabell-Huntington Health Department said it’s too early to tell how many whooping cough cases there are in their coverage area.

Early symptoms may resemble the common cold. It may take weeks, even months, for the cough to go away.

WSAZ reached out to a spokesperson with Marshall Health Network, but they would not confirm where the memo originated.

The spokesperson referred us to a medical doctor with Marshall Health Network who tells WSAZ at least two or more cases of whooping cough that might seem related constitutes an outbreak.

“Recently we have observed an increase in pertussis cases in our community,” according to a Marshall Health Network release.

Also known as pertussis, whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It spreads through respiratory droplets and primarily affects unvaccinated people and those with weakened immune systems.

Health officials say unvaccinated people are at an increased risk of severe disease and that pregnant women in the third trimester are among the most vulnerable.

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