Public Health Alerts Community to Rising Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Cases Ahead of Holidays

Public Health Madison & Dane County is urging everyone to be aware of the ongoing pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak ahead of upcoming holiday season. As of November 25, there have been 281 cases in Dane County in 2024, and 1,887 cases statewide.

“With the holidays approaching, many families will be traveling and gathering with friends and family. This could increase the spread of all respiratory illness, including pertussis, which has been primarily impacting teenagers and college-aged people in recent months,” said Amanda Kita-Yarbro, Epidemiologist for Public Health Madison & Dane County.

Pertussis is a persistent cough illness. It is a respiratory infection caused by a bacteria and spreads easily. Anyone at any age can get it, but it can be particularly serious and even deadly to infants and people with a compromised immune system.

“Because initial symptoms of pertussis often mimic that of a common cold, it’s sometimes harder to pinpoint before spreading to others. That’s why we are encouraging everyone to understand the symptoms and stay home if you’re feeling sick,” continued Kita-Yarbro.

Public Health recommends several other steps to prevent the spread of pertussis:

• Check vaccination status: Make sure that you and your children are up-to-date with the DTaP vaccine (for children) and Tdap vaccine (for adolescents and adults). If you were vaccinated in Wisconsin, you can check vaccination records on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR).
• If you think you or your child have been exposed or have pertussis symptoms: Talk to your healthcare provider right away. Keep in mind that while it is known as “whooping cough”, the telltale “whoop” sound is not common in teenagers and adults, and not all infants or young children will make this sound either. In certain cases, providers will prescribe antibiotics for people who were close contacts to someone with pertussis, even if they don’t yet have symptoms.
• Practice good hygiene: When coughing, cover your mouth with a tissue or cough into your sleeve. Wash your hands often.
• If you test positive for pertussis: Public Health will call you to provide pertussis guidance and to gather information to notify those who had a close contact exposure. You should also isolate away from others until you have completed 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment or until 21 days have passed since your cough onset.

If you aren’t up to date on your immunizations, make an appointment with your medical provider or a local pharmacy. Public Health provides free vaccinations for children on BadgerCare and those who are uninsured. More pertussis information can be found in our fact sheet and on the DHS website.