PORT ANGELES — While there have been no new whooping cough cases reported in Clallam or Jefferson counties in weeks, the region’s top public health official said the pertussis epidemic isn’t going away anytime soon.
“We will probably spend the better part of this year trying to bring this pertussis outbreak around the state under control,” Dr. Tom Locke, public health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties, told the Clallam County Board of Health on Tuesday.
Pertussis is known as whooping cough because of the “whooping” sound people often make while gasping for air after a coughing fit.
A highly contagious bacterial disease, it starts off like a cold but leads to severe coughing that can last for weeks.
In rare cases, it can be fatal.
Infants are at the highest risk of severe complications.
There have been 26 confirmed cases on the Peninsula so far this year — 21 in Jefferson County and five in Clallam County.
The state Department of Health reported Saturday that 1,484 cases have been reported statewide this year, up from 1,280 cases the week before.
Health officials believe the state could see as many as 3,000 cases by year’s end.
“We are officially in a declared epidemic,” Locke said.
Locke gave a presentation to the medical staff of Olympic Medical Center on Monday, focusing on how to diagnose pertussis, treat it and do surveillance for it.
He has repeatedly urged people to be vaccinated for pertussis.
“I think we are ramping up our effort, but this probably could be with us for some time,” Locke told the health board.
State Health Secretary Mary Selecky declared a pertussis epidemic April 3.
Health officials have ordered the vaccine and made it available for free for people who don’t have insurance.
Because the adult booster for pertussis — called Tdap for tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis — has been available only since 2005, fewer than one in 10 adults have gotten the shot, and most don’t even know they need it.
Health officials said the best way to protect infants who are too young to be to be fully immunized is to immunize older children and adults around them.
The Clallam County Health Department will offer free Tdap vaccinations for people with no medical insurance or insurance that does not cover vaccinations Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at clinics in Port Angeles and Forks.
Anyone 10 and older can get the shot at the Port Angeles clinic at 111 E. Third St. or the Forks clinic at 140 C St. while supplies last.
“We have approximately 150 vaccine shots, and we’ll be getting another 140,” Clallam County Health and Human Services Director Iva Burks said.
Jefferson County Public Health will offer free whooping cough shots for uninsured residents who are 19 and older every Monday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Port Townsend clinic at 615 Sheridan St.
For more information on pertussis, visit the state Department of Health website, www.doh.wa.gov.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
