Peninsula Daily News and The Associated Press
The North Olympic Peninsula has seen no new cases of whooping cough in the past two weeks, but Dr. John Locke, public health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties, expects that to change.
“It’s a lull in the storm,” Locke said Wednesday.
Washington state health officials Tuesday said whooping cough has reached epidemic levels in the state and urged vaccines for all children and adults to help prevent the disease.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by coughing and sneezing that is especially dangerous for infants.
The state Department of Health said about 640 cases have been reported in 23 counties as of Saturday.
That’s compared with the 94 cases reported during the same period last year.
Peninsula cases
The state lists 17 confirmed cases in Jefferson County and four in Clallam County on its website at www.doh.wa.gov.
But Locke said the number is higher if suspected cases are counted: 23 in Jefferson County and five in Clallam County.
“Those cases were picked up so quickly and treated that they didn’t have the cough for two weeks,” Locke said, adding that he is certain there were cases of whooping cough.
The outbreak seems to have leveled off on the North Olympic Peninsula, with no new cases reported in two weeks for Clallam or Jefferson counties, Locke said.
“I like to think we did a good job at containing the outbreak,” Locke said.
Centered in Port Townsend
“It was centered in the Port Townsend area. It was a mix of infants, school children and adults.
“The cases were treated, and the contacts were treated.”
However, he warned that it isn’t over.
“I think we will get more cases,” Locke said.
“It’s a matter of time” because cases are increasing statewide.
“Sooner or later, someone will come back to [the Peninsula] and expose someone who is susceptible,” he said.
Locke echoed state officials in urging both adults and children to be vaccinated for the disease.
Although none have died this year, four infants have died in the previous two years in Washington state.
Infants are particularly vulnerable to whooping cough because they can’t be immunized before 4 to 6 weeks.
Infants often get the illness from adults or other family members, so Locke urged parents, caregivers, teens and anyone who comes in close contact with infants to get a whooping cough booster, called a Tdap.
Even if untreated, the infection will disappear on its own, generally within three weeks, Locke said, and sufferers are no longer contagious.
That’s one of the reasons outbreaks are limited, Locke said.
“But the symptoms last for two to three months because the infection damages the lining of the lungs,” he said.
Vaccinations are important to protect infants and also for “anyone who wants to reduce chances of getting a three-month cough,” Locke added.
Peninsula public health departments offer free vaccinations for children up to the age of 19 through a state-sponsored program, Locke said.
The same program for children is in use by private providers, who also offer vaccinations for adults, he added.
For information about public health department vaccinations in Clallam County, phone 360-417-2274 or 360-374-3121 in the West End.
In Jefferson County, phone 360-385-9400.
