Whooping Cough confirmed in Mountain Home

According to the Central District Health Department (CDHD), there has been multiple pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Mountain Home since mid-September. In total, there has been eight cases reported, six being teenagers and two being adults.

When pertussis is suspected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that physicians initiate antibiotic treatment immediately. Patients who are diagnosed with pertussis should also remain isolated at home until they have been on appropriate antibiotics for five days.

For further prevention measures, household contacts of pertussis cases should take a preventive antibiotic, regardless of age or vaccination status.

Pertussis is a highly communicable, vaccine-preventable disease that lasts for many weeks and is most dangerous to newborns and infants.

Pertussis starts with cold-like symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough. After two weeks, a severe cough can develop with violent coughing spells, while coughing a person suffering from pertussis may have a hard time catching their breath, make a "crowing" sound or a high pitched "whoop".

People with a cough are contagious for three weeks if untreated and for five days after treatment has begun. If you are experiencing symptoms of pertussis, you should consult your health care provider.

Immediate care should be taken to limit exposure to other people through good cough hygiene, whether covering your mouth when coughing or frequently washing your hands.

Immunizations for pertussis that are received during early childhood do not provide lifetime protection or having pertussis in the past provide lifetime immunity.

The Center for Disease control recommends for children and adults from 11 to 64 years of age now be vaccinated with a newly licensed vaccine booster for tetanus, diphteria, and pertussis (known as the Tdap vaccine).

The Tdap vaccine protects adolescents and adults from pertussis and also reduces the risk of transmitting pertussis to infants or for individuals who are at risk of developing serious or life-threatening complications.

The Center District Health Department offers the Tdap vaccine for $61 for a single dose.

For more information on immunizations for pertussis, contact your medical provider or call the CDHD Immunization Nurse line at 327-8615. Information is also available on the CDHD web site www.cdhd.idaho.gov.