<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3z7prO_0vlXq8K700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3z7prO_0vlXq8K700" width="500" height="300" >OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Outagamie County health officials are warning about an increase in pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough.It comes just a week after state health officials reported there are more than 10 times as many cases of pertussis this year compared to last.The county’s Public Health Division says eight cases have been confirmed so far this year. Seven of those have come since the beginning of August. All who have come down with the illness are children.This year’s cases are the first in Outagamie County since 2020, when four cases were reported.“Whether that was from people taking precautions during the pandemic or whatever it may be, we’ve had a span of four years with no cases,” said Lilly Wegner, nursing supervisor with Outagamie County.Several Northeast Wisconsin communities have been reporting whooping cough this year. In April, De Pere High School reported “probable” cases of the disease, with Brown County public health officials issuing an alert to the larger community a few days later. In July, Fond du Lac County health officials reported 15 cases. In August, Shawano County health officials warned of whooping cough in the community. Later that month, a case was confirmed at Edison Middle School in Green Bay.Earlier this month, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services urged vaccination amid a twelve-fold increase in cases statewide.According to Outagamie County health officials, whooping cough is caused by bacteria. It can be spread by coming into contact with an infected person’s saliva — for example, when the person speaks, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms usually take five to 10 days to appear.Wegner said, “It’s very similar to a cold to start out with, unfortunately, where it’s mild cough, maybe a mild fever, some sneezing, runny nose so it can mimic a lot of things to start out with, and then it’s very severe where they can be spreading it for up to three weeks after their cough starts.”Symptoms can begin with:Runny noseSneezingLow-grade fever (between 99.5F and 100.3F)Mild occasional coughThey can progress to an uncontrollable, violent cough that makes it hard to breathe. After coughing, an infected person may need to take deep breaths, causing a “whooping” sound.Although people of all ages can be affected, pertussis can be deadly to babies less than one year old.“It’s a big concern actually, just because one kid gets sick, and sick kids get kids sick, and we’re out in the community a lot. We do the library and Luv 2 Play, cafes, things like that. It’s scary, nobody wants their kid sick,” saidGabriella Nellessen of Neenah.“As a mom of a toddler, and I’m about to give birth in a couple of weeks, it’s pretty concerning and I’m also a nurse, so we see a lot of cases coming in recently,” added Neenah resident Katlyn Harrison.There is a vaccine, but the health department says vaccination rates have dropped slightly for a unknown reason. With kids back in school and large community events like Octoberfest approaching, the health department is bringing awareness to illness in hopes of stopping it from spreading.The health department encourages anyone who feels sick to stay home. If you think you have pertussis or have been exposed to it, see a doctor so you can be tested and treated. And always practice good hygiene.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Whooping Cough On The March In Outagamie County

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Outagamie County health officials are warning about an increase in pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough. It comes just a week after state health officials reported there are more than 10 times as many cases of pertussis this year compared to last. The...