Whooping Cough rates on the rise throughout the nation

Health officials are warning about accelerating cases of whooping cough in the U.S., and many cases are school-aged children.

The CDC says there have been about four times as many cases of contagious respiratory infection this year compared to last year. Complications can include pneumonia, collapsed lungs, or even rib fractures due to the severity of coughing. However, people who are vaccinated are much less likely to get infected.

Dr. William Schaffner with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center says, “Vaccination is key. Infant vaccination, children, adolescents and then all of us adults should be getting our every 10-year vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. Of course, people who are pregnant are getting vaccinated during every pregnancy. Part of their protection goes through the placenta into that newborn baby and provides protection before we can actually vaccinate the baby.”

Most cases of whooping cough are treatable with antibiotics. The Kentucky Department for Public Health has identified an increase in whooping cough in our state as well this year, with over 130 cases in 34 counties.