Henderson County whooping cough cases continue to climb

The Henderson County Department of Public Health reported on May 7 that the outbreak of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is continuing with 74 cases, the highest number of cases since late 2017 into early 2018, when the county reported 95 cases.

Andrew Mundhenk, the public information officer for the Health Department, told the Times-News on May 7 that although the number may seem high, it's typical for this type of infection.

"Pertussis is certainly highly infectious, but we’re not seeing anything unusual with the increase of cases. Most of the transmission is occurring within household units," he said. "Most of the cases continue to be among school-aged children."

Mundhenk said there have been no hospitalizations for whooping cough so far.

"Our highest concern is for infants. Pregnant women and those who are immunocompromised are also a high priority. If you or someone in your family is among these groups, please be aware of whooping cough symptoms," he said.

The symptoms are cough, mild fever and runny nose. He said anyone with these symptoms, especially if the cough escalates into coughing fits, should see a doctor.

More: Whooping cough cases continue upward climb in Henderson County

"If you or your child has symptoms, we encourage you to contact your healthcare provider earlier than you normally may. A healthcare provider can assess your symptoms and advise on what you should do next. Treating pertussis early can make the illness less serious," he said.

The Health Department wants to emphasize the importance of good hygiene to prevent the spread of the illness, including coughing or sneezing into your elbow and washing hands or using hand sanitizer after blowing your nose.

"These same tools we use to prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses work with whooping cough as well," Mundhenk said.

Both the Dtap and Tdap vaccines are widely available through area healthcare providers, pharmacies and at the Health Department. For more information contact the Health Department at 828-692-4223.

As of last week, there was one case reported in Buncombe County and three cases reported in Transylvania County.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Whooping cough cases climb slightly; no hospitalizations yet