ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Officials in Washtenaw County are warning residents of a rise in whooping cough cases.
According to the Washtenaw County Health Department, there have been 21 detected cases in 2024 so far, a significant increase compared to the last three years.
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In 2021, Michigan saw 41 cases of whooping cough statewide.
No one has been hospitalized and current cases have been primarily teens and young adults. Officials said most cases have been people who have been vaccinated against whooping cough, but protection from vaccination decreases after two years.
Pertussis or whooping cough symptoms
Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It gets its name from the sound an infected person can make when trying to breathe after a coughing fit.
It’s spread through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
The greatest risk of spread is during the early stage when the symptoms resemble a cold -- runny nose, low fever, sneezing and occasional cough.
After a week or two, symptoms become more severe. During bouts of coughing, lips and nails may turn blue from lack of air and vomiting may occur with severe coughing bouts. People may appear healthy between coughing episodes. This can last for more than a month.
For most people, whooping cough can impact sleeping and cause pneumonia and rib fractures. For infants, it can lead to pneumonia, convulsions and brain damage.
Most deaths occur in infants younger than three months.
What you can do to prevent spread
Two kinds of vaccines help prevent pertussis: DTap and Tdap.
The DTap (diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis) vaccine is recommended for infants and young children starting at 2 months with a total of four doses by 18 months. A booster is given at 4-6 years.
The Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) vaccine is given to teens and adults with the first dose recommended at 11-12 years. A booster is recommended every 10 years.
Related: The Michigan women who created a vaccine for whooping cough, saving countless lives
Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to someone with whooping cough is urged to contact their healthcare provider. Antibiotics can treat or prevent infection but are not recommended without a diagnosed illness or a known exposure.
Diagnosed individuals should stay away from others until they have completed at least 5 days of antibiotics.
More information is available on the Washtenaw County Health Department and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services websites.
