Whitman County is under a health alert following the diagnosis of two WSU students with whooping cough.
The disease, also known as pertussis, is on the rise throughout the Inland Northwest and the rest of the country.
According to the CDC, more than five times the number of cases have been reported this year, compared to last year, resulting in the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. in a decade.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can be difficult to identify.
“There’s nothing special about what pertussis looks like when you first get it. So, that means people are walking around spreading it before they even know they have it, and that’s why vaccination is essential,” said Cindy Roberts Hollan, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
The CDC said the rise is part of the expected return to pre-pandemic levels, but is still significant.
Roberts Hollan said not enough people are staying up-to-date with their D-Tap and T-Dap vaccines.
“I think there has been increased vaccine hesitancy for a lot of people post pandemic,” she said.
The vaccine is typically administered at age 11, and then a booster is given at age 21. After that, people are encouraged to get a booster every 10 years.
Unlike the flu, pertussis does not mutate every year, but the vaccine does wear off.
Health professionals suggest everyone stay current on their vaccines, especially children, pregnant women and the elderly.
For more information on whooping cough, visit cdc.gov.
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