Health officials in Suffolk County, New York, are warning the public that cases of a respiratory bacterial infection called whooping cough, also known as whooping cough, are increasing in the area.
In Suffolk County, 108 cases of pertussis were reported or suspected in 2023. Of those cases, 100 were reported after Nov. 28, 2023, a spokesperson for the Suffolk County Health Department told ABC News.
Officials said there have been no confirmed hospitalizations and that the outbreak is occurring primarily among vaccinated children and their parents. According to the press release.
“The recent increase in pertussis cases in New York is an important moment for health departments across the country to ramp up surveillance and vaccination efforts,” said Dr. John Brownstein, epidemiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and medical contributor for ABC News. It’s a signal,” he told ABC News.
The number of whooping cough cases nationwide in 2023 was more than double that of 2022, but remains significantly lower than before the pandemic, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the CDC, it is not uncommon for pertussis outbreaks to affect vaccinated people, but when they do occur, the infection is usually mild. Health officials say vaccination remains the best possible prevention and protection.
“This is a reminder of the persistent threat of vaccine-preventable diseases and the need for communities to remain vigilant to protect our most vulnerable populations, especially infants and the immunocompromised.” Brownstein he said.
Suffolk County reported 64 pertussis cases in 2019, and the current number of cases is nearly double that number, according to the health department.
As with many non-coronavirus respiratory infections, the significant decline in pertussis cases in Suffolk County and across the United States from 2020 to 2022 was due to decreased testing for other infectious diseases and increased transmission. Experts say this is likely due to a combination of pandemic prevention measures, such as wearing masks to reduce the risk of infection. of whooping cough.
The CDC reports 5,436 pertussis cases were reported in the United States in 2023 and 2,388 pertussis cases in 2022. In comparison, approximately 15,000 and 18,000 pertussis cases were reported in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
What parents should know
Pertussis, officially known as Bordetella pertussis, is a vaccine-preventable disease. This infection can be treated with antibiotics and causes symptoms similar to the common cold respiratory illness, including stuffy nose, runny nose, and low-grade fever, but the cough can last for weeks or months. According to the CDC. A person is usually considered contagious for about two weeks after the onset of a cough. The CDC also says that infants can become most seriously ill from whooping cough, and although they don’t have a characteristic cough, they may have difficulty breathing, turn blue, or stop breathing. It also states:
“With so many respiratory illnesses prevalent today, some for which there is no cure, parents should be aware that whooping cough, also known as whooping cough, can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early. “We wanted them to do that,” said Dr. Gregson Piggott of Suffolk County. The health commissioner said in a release. “Whooping cough can be very serious for infants who are too young to be vaccinated, which is why we are warning both health care workers and the public that this disease is circulating. ” Piggott said.
The CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that pregnant women be vaccinated with a pertussis vaccine called Tdap during the third trimester of pregnancy to pass on antibody protection to the newborn. According to the CDC’s immunization schedule, infants should receive three doses of pertussis vaccine, called DTaP, at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, and two additional boosters at 15 to 18 months of age and 4 to 6 years of age. There is. Then, older children receive the Tdap vaccine at age 11 or 12, and then once every 10 years.
“Parents should be aware that the increase in pertussis cases, which primarily affect children, highlights the importance of timely vaccination, including DTaP and Tdap boosters according to the recommended schedule,” Brown said. Stein said.
Jade A Cobern, MD, MPH is a board-certified pediatrician specializing in general preventive medicine and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit. Youri Benadjaoud also contributed to this report.