Whooping cough cases continue

EPHRATA - The outbreak of whooping cough (Pertussis) in Grant County, which started in August of 2010, continues, according to the Grant County Health District.

According to Public Information Officer Theresa Fuller, the health district has investigated 32 cases and 270 case contacts since August. The county averaged fewer than three cases from 2005-2009.

The latest reported case was investigated on April 25, Fuller said. It was of a three-month-old infant. A second case was also found in the home.

The mother in this case took the infant to a doctor twice for a persistent cough, in early April and mid-April. The child was not tested for Pertussis either time.

The mother took the infant to an emergency room over the Easter weekend. This time it was tested, and Pertussis was found and reported to the health district.

"This is an example of why testing in children with a cough of more than two weeks duration is so important," said Grant County Health Officer Dr. Alexander Brzezny.

All of the cases so far have been in Quincy, Ephrata and Moses Lake, Fuller said. Some of the exposures (family members) are known, some are not, she added.