The Oregon Health Authority is warning people in nine counties about a sharp increase in pertussis — also known as whooping cough. People are urged to get vaccinated.
Three of the nine counties are in the metro area: Multnomah (41 case), Washington (13 cases) and Clackamas (33 cases) counties. Lane County leads with 64 cases. Other counties have seen fewer cases, but also have smaller populations.
“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 under-vaccinated persons,” said Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at the Public Health Division.
As of May 29, 178 pertussis cases have been reported to Public Health Division of the Health Authority. That’s a 770% increase from the 20 cases reported by that date in 2023.
The 2024 numbers are roughly in line with those seen in the immediate pre-pandemic years. Oregon saw 248 cases in 2018.
Pertussis is cyclical and tends to peak every three to five years. In 2012, 910 cases were reported in Oregon, the highest annual count since 1953. The exception to that cycle was during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions that included masking requirements and school closures were in effect.
Infants are at highest risk of pertussis-related complications and death, and they have the highest reported incidence rate. Between 2003 and 2023, infants accounted for 12% of cases and 76% of pertussis hospitalizations.
In Oregon, pertussis deaths have been limited to infants. Five have occurred since 2003.
Babies too young to have been fully vaccinated are most likely to be hospitalized with pertussis. Cieslak said that pregnant people can receive the TDaP vaccine — which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis — at 27 to 36 weeks’ gestation. The mothers will make antibodies and pass them to their babies across the placenta, protecting them from birth.
Among 16 infant cases reported in Oregon to date in 2024, only one mother had a documented dose of TDaP during the pregnancy.
When an infant or pregnant person is in the household of someone with pertussis, all household members should receive a course of antibiotics effective against bordetella pertussis; typically, that requires a five-day course of azithromycin.
Vaccination against pertussis is routinely recommended for infants, children, adolescents and adults. Children should receive the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis at 2, 4 and 6 months, and between 15 to 18 months. And again at age 4 to kindergarten age.
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