Whooping Cough is seeing a spike in Alaska putting infants and young children at risk of hospitalization.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - The Alaska Dept. of Health has put out a public alert notifying residents of an increase of Pertussis cases in the last frontier., is a bacterial infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. The name deriving from the whooping noise often made by patients after they begin having coughing fits.
Seventy-one of those cases were reported in July, by far the highest monthly number in 2024. At 20 people, June had the next most reports of the illness. The disease causes symptoms such as heavy and sudden coughing fits, fever, and difficulty breathing. In children, the symptoms can progress and become more severe, leading to vomiting and exhaustion.
“Fortunately pertussis is vaccine preventable,” said McLaughlin. There are two vaccines for Pertussis, one for children called TDAP and one for adolescents and adults called DTAP. These vaccines do work best when boosters are received about every ten years. “Pregnant women should receive TDAPS during each pregnancy, ideally during their third trimester of pregnancy and that helps protect their newborns,” McLaughlin explained.
Fairbanks Alaska Bordetella Pertussis Pertussis Whooping Cough July Vaccine DTAP TDAP Pregnancy Infants Postexposure Antimicrobial Prophylaxis PEP Seniors Immune Compromised Adults Chronic Lung Disease
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