Health officials in Haywood County have confirmed five recent cases of whooping cough among children and teens. Two people have been hospitalized.
“We are seeing isolated cases in Haywood County, and we want our residents to understand that pertussis is here, and we need to be cautious,” Dr. Sarah Banks, Haywood County Public Health Director, said in a press release.
Those who tested positive for whooping cough in Haywood County in recent days were all under the age of 19.
“The increase in cases is an important reminder that vaccination is the single most effective way to prevent pertussis and reduce the severity of the disease.”
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that starts with mild symptoms but can worsen over time. Vaccines are available, and the illness is particularly threatening to infants and those with weakened immune systems, BPR previously reported.
It gets its name from the "whooping" sound people make when gasping for air after coughing.
Last spring, there was a widespread outbreak of whooping cough with almost 120 cases in Henderson County, along with cases in Buncombe, Macon Graham, and Transylvania counties in early summer.
For more information on pertussis, including symptoms and vaccination recommendations, visit cdc.gov/pertussis.
