Another county confirms outbreak of whooping cough

The latest outbreak of Pertussis, or whooping cough, is just
east of the mountains in Kittitas County. Health officials
report seven confirmed cases in Kittitas County and eleven
other probable cases.

It appears that at least two factors might explain
the epidemic numbers this year. Whooping cough is a highly
contagious, airborne disease and clusters of non-vaccinated
children might be contributing to the outbreaks in Kittitas
and other counties, including Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom,
Cowlitz and Jefferson counties.

Research indicates that efforts to reduce the side
effects of the Pertussis vaccine over the years might also
have produced a vaccine that is less effective and doesn’t
last as long.

The state Health Department reports 463 cases so far
this year compared to 82 cases for the same period last
year.

Last year, two infants died of Pertussis in Washington state
and 12 have been hospitalized so far this year.