Press Release Whooping Cough

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 23, 2024 SHAWANO AND MENOMINEE COUNTIES, Wis. — The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department would like to make the public aware that there are cases of pertussis (whooping cough) circulating in Shawano County. Pertussis is caused by a bacteria and easily spreads from person to person through contact with droplets of saliva expelled by an infected person when they talk, cough, or sneeze, etc. Initially symptoms may be similar to the common cold: runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, and mild occasional cough. Individuals can further develop uncontrollable, violent coughing that makes it hard to breathe. After coughing, someone with pertussis may need to take deep breaths causing a “whooping” sound. Infected people can spread pertussis up to three weeks after the cough begins if they are not treated with the appropriate antibiotics. Pertussis can affect people of all ages. However, it can be very serious, even deadly, for babies less than 1 year old. Many babies who get pertussis are infected by older siblings, parents, or caregivers who might not even know they have the disease. Signs and Symptoms: We continue to recommend to the general public that individuals with the following symptoms or exposure should contact their healthcare provider: 1. Any respiratory illness with a cough: • greater than 2 weeks duration, or • that is violent and uncontrollable, or • includes an inspiratory whoop/gasping, or • has gagging/vomiting after coughing, or • is worse at night 2. Any respiratory symptoms that develop after known contact with a person with pertussis 3. Known household or other close contact with a person with pertussis 4. Exposure to pertussis and the high-risk conditions of age <1 year, pregnancy, or compromised immune system 5. 5. Exposure to pertussis and contact with family members or others with high-risk conditions of age <1 year, pregnancy, or compromised immune system For more information please see attached document.

8_23_24 Press Release Whooping Cough.pdf