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Whooping Cough Continues Its Creep Across Western North Carolina
Macon County is the latest in Western North Carolina to issue a public health alert about the whooping cough outbreak that is spreading across the region. Six cases have been confirmed, affecting multiple age groups, according to a Friday news release issued by Macon County Public Health.
The highly contagious respiratory infection has also shown up in Buncombeand Graham counties, with confirmed case counts holding steady at eight and two, respectively.
Meanwhile, in Henderson County, where the first whooping cough cases in WNC this year were reported, a localized outbreak is showing signs of a slowdown.
Public Health Information Officer Andrew Mundhenk told BPR that the case count has remained at 119 since the first week of June, and officials are hopeful the county is past the peak.
"School releasing for the summer was certainly helpful," he said. Henderson County recorded its first case in April, BPR previously reported.
The outbreak also appears to be tapering off in nearby Transylvania County, where 53 cases have been confirmed since early May, according to Tara Rybka, the health department's public information officer. No new cases have been recorded since the end of May.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, affects the airways and lungs and spreads easily when someone coughs or sneezes. It gets its name from the "whooping" sound people make when gasping for air after coughing. Symptoms typically develop five to 10 days after exposure but can take as long as 21 days.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the illness initially presents itself as the common cold but can progress to a severe cough lasting for weeks or even months, occasionally leading to coughing fits or vomiting. While whooping cough can be serious for anyone, it can be life-threatening for babies too young to be fully vaccinated, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women.
Babies are at a higher risk of life-threatening complications from pertussis in their first six months of life because their immune systems are still developing, which is why the CDC advises women to get a booster with every pregnancy.
It's recommended that the DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) vaccine be given at 2, 4, and 6 months, at 15 through 18 months, and at 4 through 6 years. The Tdap vaccine is recommended for kids 11 and older as well as adults who may need a booster. Find the full vaccine recommendations from the CDC here.
While the end of the school year means kids are no longer gathering in classrooms and hallways, it also signals the start of summer camp season and other programs that bring kids back together in even closer quarters. Along with getting the word out to the community, local health departments have also been working to inform local summer camps.
In Henderson County, that includes guidance on which symptoms to monitor as well as help with accessing testing and treatment measures, according to Mundhenk.
For more information on pertussis, including symptoms and vaccination recommendations, visit cdc.Gov/pertussis.
Have a camper in the house and looking for summer camp safety tips? The Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services has created a WNC Camp Safety Guide for parents, caregivers and camp administrators.
Whooping Cough - What Pregnant Women Need To Know About Vital Vaccine As Cases Rocket In UK
All pregnant women are being urged to protect themselves and their babies by getting a whooping cough vaccine as cases rise sharply in England.
Whooping cough is caused by the 'pertussis' bacteria (bug) and is spread by coughing and sneezing. The cough sometimes has a characteristic 'whoop' sound.
There have been five deaths from whooping cough in England. NHS experts say the most effective way to prevent whooping cough is to be fully vaccinated. Scroll down to see full advice for pregnant women and the signs of whooping cough in babies and young children.
The warning comes as figures show that cases in England have risen rapidly in the first three months of 2024. In the whole of 2023, there were 858 cases - but in the first three months of 2024 alone there were 2,793 cases.
Dr Alex Kent, medical director at NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: "Whooping cough can affect people of all ages. So far this year, 51% of cases have been found in people over 15 years, 29% 10-15 years and 20% in children under ten. These patterns, of how whooping cough affect the population, are also seen in the North East.
"Of most concern is that there have been five deaths from whooping cough elsewhere in England this year and these have been in young babies. Thankfully, we have not experienced this in the North East and North Cumbria, but we remain vigilant and are working hard to provide protection.
"The best thing we can do to prevent whooping cough is to make sure that the effective and safe vaccine is taken up by all pregnant women to protect them and their baby. Also, that children are vaccinated with their full course of vaccinations at 8, 12 and 16 weeks, 12 months and then pre-school at 3 years and 4 months to protect against whopping cough and a range of other serious diseases.
"Parents should make sure the full course for all their child's vaccines is followed and the invitations from their GP Practice are taken up at the right time. If a parent thinks their child may have missed out on any of their vaccinations, they can check their 'Red Book' or contact their GP."
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says whooping cough is a cyclical disease that peaks every three to five years, and increased transmission is being reported in all regions and across Europe. For young babies under six months, it can cause serious complications and sadly in rare cases death.
However, vaccinating pregnant women is highly effective in protecting babies from birth until they can receive their own vaccines. The NHS offers pregnant women vaccinations that help protect them and their babies during and after pregnancy.
Dr Simon Howard, UKHSA North East's consultant in health protection, said: "Whooping cough rates have risen sharply across England in recent months and sadly babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk. Importantly pregnant women can help protect their babies by getting vaccinated.
"When pregnant women have the vaccination, their body produces antibodies to protect against whooping cough. These antibodies then pass to the baby through the placenta giving them high levels of protection until they're able to have their own whooping cough vaccination from 8 weeks old. Mums-to-be can contact their midwife or GP surgery if they have reached week 20 of their pregnancy and are unsure whether they have had the vaccine."
Dr Howard added: "If anyone is diagnosed with whooping cough, it's important that they stay at home and do not go into work, school, or nursery until 48 hours after starting antibiotics, or three weeks after symptoms start if they have not had antibiotics. This helps to reduce the spread of infection, especially to vulnerable groups. Vaccination remains the best protection for babies and children."
Below is more information from the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board.
Pregnant womenAll pregnant women are strongly recommended to be vaccinated against whooping cough to protect themselves and their baby. Women are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from whooping cough if they are pregnant, and if they catch the virus late in pregnancy, their baby could also be at risk.
Vaccination in pregnant women is 97% effective at preventing death in babies from whooping cough. The vaccine has been given during pregnancy for over 10 years and successfully reduced whooping cough in pregnant women and infants. Getting vaccinated whilst pregnant provides babies with a high level of immunity against whooping cough, during the first few weeks of their life, when they are still too young to be vaccinated themselves.
It also provides important protection for mothers throughout their pregnancy. If for any reason mums-to-be miss having the vaccine, they can still have it right up until the end of their pregnancy. But is best between 16 and 32 weeks to achieve high immunity for the baby.
Whooping cough vaccines are available from a GP and through some antenatal clinics. Pregnant women may be offered the vaccination at a routine antenatal appointment from around 16 weeks of their pregnancy.
If a woman is more than 16 weeks pregnant and has not been offered the vaccine, they can talk to their midwife or GP and make an appointment to get vaccinated. The vaccine does not contain any live viruses and cannot give mothers or their baby whooping cough.
For further advice on getting a whooping cough vaccinations, pregnant women are advised to use this leaflet or speak to their midwife.
Babies and young childrenYoung babies with whooping cough are often very unwell and many are likely to need hospital treatment. Early symptoms of whooping cough are similar to a cold, with a temperature, runny nose and persistent cough. The illness can develop into severe coughing bouts, external with a 'whoop' sound, as well as shortness of breath or gasping.
All babies are given three doses of the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age, with a pre-school booster offered at 3 years 4 months. For further advice on getting a children's whooping cough vaccination, speak to a GP.
Urgently See GP About Missed Whooping Cough Vaccination, RCGP Urges Parents
The RCGP has issued urgent advice for parents to check their children's vaccination status – and urgently book a GP appointment if they are not protected against whooping cough.
It has joined forces with other medical royal colleges to also urge pregnant women to take up the offer of pertussis vaccination, following devastating news of further baby deaths.
Yesterday the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said three more babies died from whooping cough in April, bringing the total for this year to eight.
In the first four months of 2024 there have been 4,793 laboratory confirmed cases of pertussis compared with 858 across the whole of 2023.
All pregnant women are offered the pertussis vaccine during every pregnancy, usually between 16 and 32 weeks of their pregnancy, helping to protect their baby the first few weeks of its life until they are old enough to have the vaccine at eight weeks of age.
In joint advice with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the RCGP urged parents to ensure their children are protected.
Parents should check their children's vaccination record to ensure it is up to date as 'vaccination is the only effective means' to protect young babies and children from whooping cough, the colleges said.
Whooping cough can affect babies, children and adults and is spread in the droplets of the coughs or sneezes of someone with the infection.
It starts like many viral illnesses with cold-like symptoms: a runny nose and coughing spasms with worsening severity, sometimes worse at night, or with a gasping sound 'whoop' and occasionally difficulty in breathing.
It is 'very important to seek help early' especially if symptoms are 'severe', having an effect on breathing and causing skin colour to turn 'more dusky and blue', the colleges added.
But the condition is 'preventable', so this outbreak highlights the 'paramount importance' of engaging with vaccination programmes, the colleges said.
They also called for a 'swift' implementation of the NHS Vaccination Strategy by the Government to encourage the prioritisation of vaccine coverage.
RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne urged all parents to check that their children's vaccinations are up to date, and if they're not, to make an appointment at their GP surgery 'as soon as possible'.
She said: 'Having whooping cough is, for most people, an unpleasant experience, but for some it can be far more serious.
'More vulnerable patients who may have a weakened immune system or are very young or elderly, can experience highly distressing symptoms.
'However, this can be avoided. Vaccinations are an effective form of protection, so we would urge all parents to check that their children's vaccinations are up to date, and if they're not, to make an appointment at their GP surgery as soon as possible.
'This outbreak, and the spike in measles cases at the start of 2024, have brought to the fore the dangers of vaccine complacency and hesitancy, and the importance of community outreach in addressing concerns and highlighting the effectiveness and safety of vaccinations.'
RCM professional professional policy advisor Clare Livingstone said: 'We are urging all pregnant women to protect their baby from whooping cough by getting vaccinated.'
'The immunity you get from the vaccine will pass to your baby through the placenta and provide passive protection for them until they are old enough to be routinely vaccinated against whooping cough at 8 weeks old.
'It's also not too late to have the vaccine if you have missed the window, women can still have this vaccine right up until they go into labour.
'You can also have the vaccine at the same time as the flu jab.'
The RCM has also 'called on all midwives to discuss this vital vaccine with the women in their care as part of their conversations about all vaccines that are recommended during pregnancy,' she added.
Advice on accessing the vaccineSource: RCGP
In March, UKHSA issued warnings to parents of babies and pregnant women to urgently take up offers of vaccination amidst rising cases of pertussis as part of national awareness campaigns.
As part of the annual analysis of attitudes towards vaccination, 20% of parents surveyed in 2023 said they had come across information online that made them concerned, compared with 6% the year before, UKHSA officials reported earlier this year.
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