PORT ANGELES — Health officials reported 10 new whooping cough cases on the North Olympic Peninsula since June 16.
The cases are part of a declared epidemic in Washington state that has affected more than 3,000 since Jan. 1.
“We’re up to 25 cases in the county,” said Iva Burks, Clallam County Health and Human Services director.
Twenty-two cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, have been confirmed in Jefferson County by the state Department of Health, but no new cases have been confirmed within the past month.
No deaths have been reported.
Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that produces severe coughing and can lead to severe complications in infants and children.
It spreads through coughing and sneezing.
In rare cases, it can be fatal.
Spread slowing
Since the state declared an official epidemic April 3, the spread of pertussis appears to be slowing down.
There were 41 new cases in Washington state last week compared with 249 new cases the week ending May 19, part of a continuing down trend.
But the epidemic remains active, state health officials said.
There have been 3,014 reported cases since Jan. 1, compared to 219 during the same period last year.
Health officials said the best way to protect infants who are too young to be to be fully immunized is to immunize the people around them.
The adult booster for pertussis is called Tdap for tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis.
“We continue to encourage people to get Tdap shots,” Burks said.
The Clallam County Health Department will offer a low-cost vaccination clinic for adults 19 and older who are uninsured or whose insurance doesn’t cover Tdap vaccinations July 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the health clinic in Forks at 140 C St.
The cost is $12 per vaccination.
The Clallam County Health Department immunized 166 uninsured adults in Port Angeles and Forks on May 18.
“Infants are most at risk for very serious illness from whooping cough, and many are made sick by an adult who didn’t know they were carrying the illness,” state Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes said.
“All teens and adults should get the Tdap shot. Even people who don’t have close contact with babies can spread the illness to babies when they’re in public.”
14,000 more vaccinations
The state Department of Health ordered 14,000 more Tdap vaccinations for uninsured adults to go with the 27,000 doses already sent to city, county and tribal jurisdictions.
“Whooping cough vaccines work but don’t seem to last as long as was expected,” state Secretary of Health Mary Selecky said in a prepared statement released Thursday.
“Even so, vaccinated people who get whooping cough have milder symptoms, shorter illnesses and are less likely to spread the disease to others. Our biggest concern is keeping babies from getting sick — and vaccination is still the best protection.”
Of the 173 infants who have come down with whooping cough this year, 38 were hospitalized.
For more information, phone the Clallam County Health and Human Services Department at 360-417-2258 or Jefferson County Public Health at 360-385-9400.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.