Cases of whooping cough are dramatically on the rise in Connecticut, leading local health officials to urge the public to get booster shots and vaccinations.
So far this year, there are 111 confirmed cases of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, said state Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani. There were 11 total cases in 2023, marking more than a 900% increase year over year.
Nearly 70% of the cases are among children who may have missed being vaccinated because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are raising attention to this both to providers and to families. So, theoretically, people can get back up to date on their vaccines before children are going back to daycare or back to school,” Juthani said.
Pertussis is highly contagious, but takes several days for symptoms — runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and a mild cough — to appear. As the infection progresses, the cough can become more severe and the illness can even turn deadly.
Newborns, young children and pregnant women are especially susceptible to the bacterial disease.
Infection can be confirmed through a nasal swab test and can be treated with multiple antibiotics to tamp down symptoms.
People should seek medical attention immediately if symptoms include vomiting, turning blue or red, and struggling or haltingly breathing, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Doctors said anyone between 11 and 64 should get a T-DaP booster since the one administered during young childhood wears off over time.
Alaska has reported a similar spike in cases, with 91 infections reported in June and July alone.