Whooping Cough on the Rise in Wisconsin

Whooping cough cases continue to rise across Wisconsin. So far more than 3,000 have been confirmed this year.

States that usually see a couple hundred cases of pertussis annually have already seen thousands this year. Tom Clark is an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control. He says pertussis shows no signs of waning. “We’re on track for a record, so just about 18,000 cases in the U.S. this year… and cases continue; most states are seeing increases. So we are expecting a lot more pertussis before the end of the year.”

Earlier this year, a Wisconsin infant died from pertussis, commonly known as ‘whooping cough.’ Children under six months don’t yet have all the needed shots and are most vulnerable. Dan Hopfensberger says it’s important those people around infants get vaccinated. Hopfensberger is immunization program manager for Wisconsin’s Health Services Department. He says school children are required to have pertussis shots, but the vaccine offers less protection over time. “We now have boosters available for adolescents and adults starting at 10 years of age. So if they haven’t got what’s called tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, they should contact their doctor’s office to get the vaccine.”

Hopfensberger says whooping cough is cyclical; the disease has a resurgence every so often. The last time Wisconsin had a major outbreak was 2004. Pertussis is typically treated with antibiotics.