Clark County is experiencing an alarming spike in whooping cough and chickenpox instances amongst youngsters — outbreaks that well being officers say may’ve been prevented.
For the reason that starting of the 12 months, 406 Clark County residents — principally youngsters — have been identified with whooping cough, with 168 instances reported within the final two months. It’s the highest variety of instances amongst all counties in Washington.
All through 2023, Clark County reported 14 instances of whooping cough.
Chickenpox instances have additionally been on the rise, with 50 instances reported because the starting of 2024. Of these instances, 23 had been tied to a few college outbreaks in late September.
A lot of the whooping cough and chickenpox instances are amongst unvaccinated youngsters.
“People have different reasons for not getting their children vaccinated, but there’s no reason why we should be seeing these outbreaks from something that is preventable,” mentioned Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County Public Well being director. “It’s incredibly frustrating that we continue to see outbreaks.”
Melnick mentioned the very best factor households can do is guarantee their youngsters are updated on their vaccinations.
Acknowledge the signs
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a respiratory sickness brought on by micro organism that spreads from individual to individual via respiration, coughing or sneezing.
The sickness might be particularly severe for infants youthful than 1 12 months, who’re at increased danger of extreme problems.
Chickenpox is a contagious illness brought on by the virus varicella-zoster. It’s primarily unfold via contact with somebody who has chickenpox.
Signs of chickenpox embody fever, tiredness, lack of urge for food and headache, adopted by a rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters, in line with Public Well being.
Individuals who have chickenpox are contagious for as much as two days earlier than the rash begins and stay contagious till the blisters have scabbed.
When a college experiences a chickenpox outbreak, college students with out proof of immunity might be excluded from courses for 21 days from the final date they had been uncovered.
Rising pattern
This isn’t the primary time this 12 months Clark County recorded a spike in whooping cough instances, principally amongst unvaccinated people.
In June, Public Well being recognized 60 instances of whooping cough within the county.
As of Nov. 2, the Washington State Division of Well being counted 1,193 instances of whooping cough throughout 31 counties. This time final 12 months, the state well being division had reported solely 51 instances.
Earlier than this 12 months, the latest whooping cough outbreak in Clark County was in 2015 when Public Well being recorded 319 instances.
Whooping cough is handled with antibiotics. After 5 days of antibiotics, sufferers can not unfold the sickness, however the cough might proceed.
For whooping cough, the state recommends youngsters obtain 5 doses of the diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine, also called DTaP, earlier than age 7.
Adolescents beginning at age 11 and adults ought to obtain a tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis booster, generally referred to as Tdap, in line with Public Well being.
People who find themselves vaccinated should still get whooping cough, however their sickness is often much less extreme.
Two doses of the chickenpox vaccine are really useful for youngsters: one dose at 12 to fifteen months previous and a second dose at 4 to six years previous. Two doses of the vaccine are 90 % efficient at stopping chickenpox, Public Well being mentioned.
“These are highly contagious diseases. We’re concerned we’re going to see an increase in these cases throughout the school year and the holiday season,” Melnick mentioned. “By far, vaccinations are the best way to prevent these illnesses from occurring.”