OHA release – Oregon health officials are concerned about a sharp increase in cases of pertussis (whooping cough) and are encouraging vaccination against the disease, especially for pregnant people who should be vaccinated during the third trimester to protect their newborns after birth. Once babies turn 2 months old, they should begin receiving their childhood tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine series, or DTaP. As of Wednesday, May 29, 178 pertussis cases have been reported to OHA in 2024 from nine counties. That’s a 770% increase from the 20 cases reported by that date in 2023. However, the 2024 numbers are roughly in line with those seen during similar time frames in the immediate pre-pandemic years, including 2019, when there were 93 cases, and 2018, which saw 248 cases by this time. Pertussis is cyclical, and cases typically peak every three to five years. “Our concern is with how quickly we jumped to such a high number of pertussis cases, which tell us that the disease is doing what it does best: spreading fast and taking a greater toll on undervaccinated persons,” said Paul Cieslak, M.D., OHA’s medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations. Young infants, even healthy ones, are particularly vulnerable to serious illness or death from pertussis. Among 16 infants reported to have pertussis in Oregon this year, only one mother had been vaccinated against pertussis during pregnancy. After age 10, people should receive one dose of Tdap in their lifetime (with the exception of pregnant people, noted above).
