Pertussis outbreak not subsiding

EPHRATA - Grant County has four confirmed and 18 linked whooping cough (pertussis) cases as of July 15. Additional cases are likely as the outbreak seems to be growing.

In an effort to control the spread of the disease, the Grant County Health Officer has recommended antibiotics for a defined number of people who have come into close contact, been housed with, or transported together with the sick patients. Between July 3-7, 210 close contacts in Grant County received antibiotics.

A Tdap vaccine clinic was held July 15 for all the affected workers in Mattawa. Grant County Health District staff are contacting all 210 patients to interview them regarding cough history and where they have visited or worked.

This information has been shared with neighboring public health agencies and used to decide if there are additional people who should receive antibiotics. Symptomatic (coughing) people associated with this outbreak are living in Grant, Adams, and Franklin counties.

Grant County Health Officer reminds residents:

• Pertussis "whooping cough" is a vaccine preventable disease.
• Children may need up to five DTaP shots between two months of age and when they start school.
• Tdap shot is required for 6th grade school entry.
• Tdap is recommended for children 7-10 years old who are unvaccinated or under vaccinated for pertussis.
• Tdap shot is recommended for all adults who are not up to date and do not have contraindication to vaccine.
• Because immunity from pertussis shot or disease wears off, family members and caregivers of infants should make sure they are up to date with their pertussis vaccination.
• All pregnant women should get another Tdap vaccine at 27 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, regardless of prior vaccine.
• To protect the babies, other family members should get the Tdap booster as soon as possible.
• All healthcare workers and childcare providers should be fully immunized for pertussis.