Dane County Division of Public Health                                                       Madison Department of Public Health 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Date: December 18, 2002                   Contact:  Dr. Kathryn Vedder  266-4821 (Madison Public Health)                                                                                 Julie Halvorsen  242-6487  (Dane County Public Health) 

Madison and Dane County are currently experiencing an outbreak of pertussis (whooping cough).  Physicians are reporting cases throughout Madison and Dane County.   Currently, most reported cases are in high school students, but the disease is expected to spread to other age groups.  Healthcare providers and public health officials are working together to limit this outbreak.

Pertussis starts with a runny nose and a mild but irritating cough for 1-2 weeks, which then changes to spells of long coughs that can interrupt breathing and be followed by vomiting and exhaustion. The “whooping” sound is the struggle to inhale air in at the end of a long coughing spell.   Although older children and adolescents may not have the very severe cough, pertussis can be very serious (even deadly) in infants and young children who come into contact with older children and adults with untreated pertussis.   

We are urging everyone, no matter what age, to seek a culture and treatment from their physician or clinic if they have a cough lasting more than a week, with one of the following: 

·         Paroxysms of coughing (meaning periods of non-stop coughing)

·         Inspiratory “whoop,” (meaning a gasping or whooping sound while breathing in).

·         Post-tussive vomiting, (meaning coughing so hard and long that vomiting occurs).  

Pertussis is treated and prevented by medication.  Nearly everyone had immunizations for pertussis in the DPT or DTaP shots given in childhood.  Unfortunately, that immunity fades over time, and teenagers, adults, and some children are susceptible to infection. The current vaccine may only be given to individuals under the age of seven.  An adult vaccine is under development, but is not yet available.  

Pertussis in all age groups can be treated with erythromycin or similar drugs.  People who have been exposed to pertussis can prevent disease by taking antibiotics.  Public health workers will interview all reported cases of pertussis to assure that anyone exposed to pertussis is notified so they can contact their healthcare provider about possible treatment. 

Anyone diagnosed with pertussis must stay home from work or school for at least five days after starting antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the disease. 

If people have questions and live in the City of Madison, call the Madison Department of Public Health at 266-4821. If you have questions and live in Dane County outside of Madison, call the Dane County Division of Public Health at 242-6520.