Whooping Cough Makes a Return in Tri-County Area

Whooping cough was all but wiped out after vaccines were introduced in the 1940s, but have made a comeback. (Photo via U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

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More than three dozen cases of pertussis, commonly called whooping cough — a childhood disease that had been all but wiped out after vaccines were introduced in the 1940s — have been reported in Oakland and Macomb counties so far this yer.

There have 18 cases of the virus reported in Oakland County so far this year, four of them since school started earlier this month, The Oakland Press reports. Local health officials in Macomb County have reported 21 cases of whooping cough through August. As of June 30, the most recent date for which statistics were available, 13 cases of pertussis had been reported.

Kathy Forzley, manager of the Oakland County Health Division, said the incidence of whooping cough is lower this year than in others. For example, 121 cases had been reported through August 2014; 59 cases had been reported through August 2013; 64 cases had been reported through August 2012; and 78 cases had been reported through August 2011.

According to Michigan Department of Community Health, 325 cases of pertussis had been reported statewide as of Sept. 15.

Whooping cough is caused by bacteria and spreads quickly if not controlled. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny germ-laden droplets are sprayed into the air and breathed into the lungs of anyone who happens to be nearby.

Symptoms, usually mild at first and resembling those of the common cold, may not appear for up to three weeks. Early symptoms — runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, red and watery eyes, mild fever and dry cough — may worsen after a week or two.

In the advanced stages, thick mucus in the airways cause uncontrollable coughing attacks that may provoke vomiting result in a red or blue face, cause extreme fatigue, and end with a high-pitched “whoop” sound during the next breath of air.

Whooping cough is sometimes called the “100-day cough” because the virus is so persistent, the CDC says.

Those suffering from the illness may not develop a characteristic whoop, but may have a hacking cough.

Pertussis can affect people of all ages, but babies are particularly susceptible, and among them, it can be deadly.

“Even though this may be a mild illness for an adult, infected adults can and do spread this disease to babies,” Forzley said.

The CDC says the best prevention is vaccination. The childhod vaccine is called DTaP, and the pertussis booster vaccine for preteens, teens and adults is called Tdap. More information is found here.

With the start of school this year, obtaining waivers for required immunizations was more difficult. In he past, parents who objected to childhood vaccinations simply filed a request with their school districts. This year, however, they were requied to attend an educational session at their local health departments.

Last year, there were 17,873 cases of pertussis reported to the CDC. By early August this year, 10,209 cases had been reported. Incidence of the childhood disease has been steadily rising since the 1980s, and hit a 50-year high of 48,277 cases in 2012.