Whooping cough spike seen across Wisconsin and the nation

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- Health officials are warning families about a rise in Pertussis, or Whooping Cough. The Centers for Disease Control says numbers have tripled across the country compared to this time last year.

Cases in Wisconsin are also at an alarming increase. Last year, the number of cases reported was 51, and this year, that number has jumped to 278. Dr. Jim Conway is the medical director of UW Health's immunization program and a pediatric infectious disease doctor.

He says whooping cough can be easily transmitted from person to person through the air and spreads fast.

"It causes swelling of the airways, damage in the airways, and this really pronounced cough, and it's particularly a problem in small babies who obviously have very narrow airways," he said.

Conway says once it's established in a community, it spreads quickly.

"People are contagious before they actually develop symptoms, and then can remain contagious for many weeks," he said.

A lapse in vaccinations and an uptick in post-pandemic travel are likely factors of the increase.

"We're seeing lots of vaccine preventable diseases get reintroduced into various areas of the world," said Dr. Conway.

While infants are the most vulnerable, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports that more than half the cases they are seeing are from those between age 11 and 18.

Anyone can get whooping cough, and once diagnosed, you need antibiotics to prevent the spread.

Doctors are urging people to stay up to date on all important vaccinations.