The Erie County Department of Health has recently received laboratory confirmation of several confirmed cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in residents who live in Erie County. 

It is recommended that if a person in your family becomes sick with a cough illness that medical care is sought and that the medical provider is aware that there has been pertussis disease in our community.

People with pertussis usually spread the disease by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others who then breathe in the pertussis bacteria.  The disease starts like the common cold, with runny nose or congestion, sneezing, and maybe mild cough or fever.  Pertussis can become a series of violent and rapid coughing fits sometimes followed by vomiting that continues for weeks.  The incubation period, or the time from initial contact with an infected person and the first appearance of pertussis symptoms, is usually 6 - 20 days.
 
Children should be immunized with pertussis vaccine, given as DTaP before school entry, or recently boosted with a Tdap vaccine (recommended at age 11-12 years).  Even with this vaccination, the child may still get the disease.  Please check the immunization (shot) record of the children and adults in your family and make sure they are up to date with their pertussis vaccine.  DTaP vaccine is recommended at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12-18 months, and 4-6 years of age.  Tdap is recommended at ages 11-18 years; however, the vaccine can be given to persons starting at age 7 or older, including adults if they have not received Tdap vaccine in the past.  One dose of Tdap vaccine (pertussis containing vaccine) is recommended for all adults.  In certain cases, a dose of Tdap may be recommended for ages 7 and older.
 
If a person has been coughing for two weeks or longer, or develops a severe or unusual cough illness and has not been seen by a medical provider, please have them evaluated by a medical provider.  A nasopharyngeal culture for pertussis should be done by the doctor if he or she feels the person may have pertussis.  This culture should be done before the person starts on an antibiotic. 

You can also check out the CDC website on pertussis at:  

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pertussis/

Please notify the Intake Nurse at the Erie County Department of Health at 451-6700 if a person develops a cough illness as stated above.  This allows the Health Department to initiate prompt disease control measures.  If you have any questions, please also call the Health Department and ask for the Intake Nurse.