South Dakota is seeing an increase in the number of cases of pertussis—also known as whooping cough– this year, with Hughes and Edmunds counties being two of the most affected areas.
The state Department of Heath reports they’ve been alerted to 90 cases of pertussis since the beginning of the year– the highest number reported since 2014 when the state saw 109 pertussis cases. Counties seeing the most cases include Edmunds (19), Brown (15), Minnehaha (13) and Hughes (12).
State epidemiologist Dr. Joshua Clayton says pertussis is a highly contagious disease that is spread from person to person through the air by the cough of an infected person. Early symptoms resemble a common cold, including sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough. He says within two weeks, the cough becomes more severe and is characterized by episodes of numerous rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched whoop. Coughing episodes may recur for one to two months and are more frequent at night.
Dr. Clayton says pertussis is a serious illness so it’s important to take precautions like ensuring you and your children are current with all recommended vaccines. He says while it can affect people of any age, it is most severe in babies under 6 months old, especially in preterm and unvaccinated infants. The elderly are also at risk.
Dr. Clayton says treatment with antibiotics can shorten the contagious period. People who have been in contact with an infected person should see their clinician for evaluation and to receive antibiotics if they have symptoms of pertussis or are at high risk of developing pertussis.
Because immunity wanes over time, a booster dose is recommended for adolescents, 11-12 years of age, and for adults.
More information about pertussis and its control can be found on the department’s website at http://doh.sd.gov/diseases/infectious/diseasefacts/Pertussis.aspx.
