Whooping cough cases on the rise in Kentucky

Kentucky health officials are warning of an alarming increase in cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

“We have been in a state of increase for quite a while now,” said Lincoln Trail District Health Department Public Relations Officer Michelle Phillips. “They actually have issued a health alert because we’ve had 130 cases already in the state so far, and 44 of those have been since April, and it’s very dangerous especially for very young children and our older adults.”

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness with symptoms that begin with a runny nose and mild coughing but then develop into rapid, violent coughing fits that cause a “whooping” sound, vomiting, and labored breathing. Whooping cough spreads easily from person to person via the air, but like most respiratory illnesses the best defense is vaccination.

“Vaccines are one of the best ways that we can prevent diseases, and one of the biggest importance of the vaccines is protection for those who can’t be vaccinated, so providing that immunity for those who can’t receive the vaccine,” Phillips said.

Lincoln Trail District residents can contact the health department for more information on getting children vaccinated against the disease.

“We do participate in the Vaccines for Children program, and that covers children who have Medicaid, who don’t have health insurance, or who have health insurance that doesn’t cover certain vaccines,” Phillips said “We don’t do adult vaccination at this point, but that is something that’s going to be coming later this summer or in the early fall months.”

Visit the Kentucky Department of Public Health’s website for more information on pertussis.