LEXINGTON, Ky. — A serious announcement from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department Monday when it officially declared pertussis, or whooping cough as an outbreak.

Since late April, there have been nine confirmed cases in the Lexington area, including three more cases on May 20. The newest cases come from Lafayette High School, St. Peter and Paul Catholic School and a community case involving 80-year-old.

Whooping cough is an extremely contagious respiratory illness spread by coughing and sneezing. It affects people of all ages but is most serious in babies and those with chronic diseases. Parents are asked to make sure their kids are up-to-date with their vaccines or fully vaccinated with a booster.

All central Kentucky caregivers should be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of pertussis, or whooping cough, while ensuring their kids are up to date on their vaccines or fully vaccinated with the booster.

Symptoms 

The early symptoms are like a common cold: runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and coughing. After 1-2 weeks, the cough often gets worse, changing from a dry, hacking cough to bursts of uncontrollable, sometimes violent, coughing. During a coughing episode, it might be temporarily impossible to take a breath because of the intensity and repetition of the coughs. When finally able to breathe, the person might take a sudden gasp of air, which can cause a “whooping” sound. Vomiting and exhaustion can often follow a coughing spell.

If your child visits a doctor for these symptoms, be sure to ask to have your child tested for pertussis.

Vaccine

The vaccine against pertussis is routine and required for school-age kids. One dose of the booster vaccine, called Tdap, is recommended for ages 11 and above for protection. Teenagers and adults who have never received the Tdap vaccine should check with their doctor or call the health department at 859-288-2483 Monday-Thursday to check availability. Although the vaccine is effective, immunity decreases over time, making the booster important for older children and adults.

The health department recommends preventive antibiotics for high-risk students who were exposed to pertussis. This includes students with a chronic illness or weakened immune system and those who live in households with a family member with a chronic illness or weakened immune system, an infant or a pregnant woman.

Any school-age children with symptoms of whooping cough should stay home from school and visit a doctor to be evaluated, even if they have been vaccinated.

For more information about pertussis, call 859-288-2437.