Michigan residents, increase in Whooping Cough cases; families of young children urged to get up to date with immunizations…

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is calling attention to an increase in cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, and urging individuals to get up to date with vaccinations. Case numbers across the state surpassed last year’s reports and are coinciding with a return to pre-pandemic patterns of more cases per yearn nationally. Between 2017 and 2019, Michigan averaged 596 cases of pertussis each year. There have already been 830 confirmed or probably cases reported to MDHHS this year as of October 28th. Early symptoms of pertussis can look like a common cold. It can take five to 10 days for symptoms to appear after exposure and sometimes longer. Babies and young children may not cough, but they may have pauses in their breathing, which can make their skin look bluish or cause shortness of breath. Later symptoms can consist of uncontrolled coughing fits. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention recommends pertussis vaccine for infants, children, adolescents and people who are pregnant. CDC also recommends a dose of pertussis vaccine for adults who haven’t received a dose as an adolescent or adult. For more information on pertussis, visit the CDC’s website and follow the CDC for information on pertussis cases and follow the CDC for information on pertussis cases and outbreaks or Whooping Cough (Pertussis) in Michigan.