Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Cases Continue to Climb in Dane County

Back in July, we shared that we’re seeing many cases of whooping cough, which is also known as pertussis. Unfortunately, more people are testing positive for the bacteria, mostly kids who are middle and high school aged. This year in Dane County, 142 people have had pertussis, as of October 15, 2024. We’re seeing similar trends across the state.

It’s tricky to stop a pertussis outbreak. Here’s why:

Early symptoms look like a cold.

Early symptoms are very similar to those of a cold and may include a runny nose, low‐grade fever, or a slight cough. When people have these early symptoms, they can still spread pertussis to others. Because people feel generally okay, they might choose to go about their daily routine. This means others may be exposed before the sick person is diagnosed. Pertussis spreads easily, with the bacteria traveling on droplets of saliva when a person who is infected talks, coughs, or sneezes.

Not everyone has the signature “whoop” that gives whooping cough its name.

After about a week, the cough gets worse and can cause other symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, vomiting, and the need to deeply breathe in. Some people have a “whoop” when they cough, which is how whooping cough got its name, but not everyone gets it. The “whoop” sound is not common in teenagers and adults, and not all infants or young children will make this sound either. Even if you don’t have a “whoop,” you could still have pertussis.

The incubation period is long.

If you are exposed to pertussis and become infected, symptoms generally develop 5 to 10 days after your last contact with the infected person but can take up to 21 days to develop.

The good news is that the vaccine is working.

Even if someone has been fully vaccinated against pertussis, the protective effects can wane over time, and they can still get pertussis. The vaccine is working, as we are not typically seeing severe illness or hospitalization among vaccinated people.

Protect yourself and your family by being up to date on vaccines and talking with your provider if you see pertussis symptoms.

Check vaccination status.

Make sure that you and your children are up-to-date with vaccination. Here’s a timeline:

• 2 months to 6 years old: Should receive 5 doses of DTaP vaccine.
• 11-12 years old: Should receive one dose of Tdap vaccine.
• Adults: Should receive one dose of Tdap vaccine, if you haven’t already. Adults need booster doses every 10 years to maintain protection against tetanus and diphtheria. This booster can be given as a Td shot (just tetanus and diphtheria) or Tdap shot (those two, plus pertussis).
• Pregnant people: Should receive Tdap between 27-36 weeks of pregnancy, during each pregnancy, to protect the newborn before they are old enough to get vaccinated.

If you were vaccinated in Wisconsin, you can check vaccination records on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR).

We offer free vaccinations for people without insurance and children on BadgerCare. If you have insurance, you can get vaccinated at area pharmacies or your doctor’s office.

Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you think you or your child have been exposed or have pertussis symptoms.

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.

If you test positive for pertussis, stay home and away from others in your home while contagious. You should also expect a confidential call from trained public health staff who will offer guidance and information on pertussis and can help notify people who had a close contact exposure.

Practice good hygiene.

This is good for all respiratory illnesses, including COVID, flu, RSV, and pertussis!

• Stay at home if you are sick.
• When coughing, cover your mouth with a tissue or cough into your sleeve.
• Wash your hands often.

For more information on pertussis, see our fact sheet and information from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.