United States: The Fond du Lac County Health Department issued a warning on July ten after fifteen cases of Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, were recently reported among the city’s residents.
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The officials stated that treatment is underway for the affected, with appropriate antibiotics provided. Efforts are also being made to minimize exposure to the community unless the infected are no longer contagious.
Know more about Pertussis
It is known to be a highly potent and communicable respiratory disease. It spreads via cough, sneezing, or talking, as well as through other close contacts, as aol.com reported.
Moreover, as experts note, it could become severe in pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, and babies of age below one year.
Its initial symptoms involve a cold, sneezing, a slight fever, and a cough. However, in a later stage, it becomes uncontrollably violent, with a severe coughing condition accompanied by vomiting.
Therefore, it got the name whooping cough because of the “whooping” sound that the affected person makes while taking deep breaths while coughing.
Measure against Pertussis by experts
The advisory issued by the Fond du Lac County Health Department asked people to seek health experts’ advice directly if the cough persists for up to three weeks, thereby getting the treatment as quickly as possible.
Also, as experts note, if the patient initiates the treatment during the less aggressive stage of cough, then the later symptoms do not turn severe in that patient, as aol.com reported.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccinations, which is considered as the best way to stay protected against pertussis infection.
The vaccination called DTaP is given to young children, whereas TDaP is for teens and older, to provide protection against diphtheria, tetanus and Pertussis.
Moreover, the advisory also mentions that one must confirm their vaccination status against Pertussis, whether it is updated or not from the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.