HONOLULU — On Wednesday, the Hawaii Department of Health confirmed another case of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in another area of Hawaii Island that is unrelated to previous cases, according to a Department of Health news release.
This eleventh case follows 10 others recently reported on the island from March through April. Several of the earlier cases occurred in infants too young to be fully vaccinated.
The recent cases indicated community spread on Hawaii Island. DOH strongly recommends people stay up to date on pertussis vaccinations, which is especially important for infants, young children and those with underlying medical conditions, as well as their close contacts. These vulnerable groups are more likely to develop severe whooping cough, according to DOH.
People are advised to contact their primary care provider such as a pediatrician, family physician, internal medicine physician or nurse practitioner and confirm the pertussis vaccine is available. Those without a primary care provider can contact their health plan or a federally qualified health center if they do not have health insurance.
Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by bacteria that can cause severe coughing fits – up to 10 weeks or more – followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound when breathing in. Vomiting and exhaustion can also set in.
Especially in the case of infants, pertussis can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, seizures and brain damage. DOH says some infants may not cough at all and may instead have apnea (life-threatening pauses in breathing) or struggle to breathe.
Officials urge individuals to see a doctor as soon as possible if you or your child is experiencing symptoms such as runny nose, fever and coughing violently and rapidly. If you or your child is struggling to breathe or turning blue or purple, call 911 immediately.
DOH says the best protection is to stay up to date on pertussis vaccines, two of which are used in the U.S. – DTaP or Tdap. They recommend infants and children complete a series of DTaP doses while adolescents should get one dose of Tdap, preferably at age 11 or 12.
Women should get a Tdap dose during the third trimester of each pregnancy to help protect babies early in life. Family and other people in the same household should ensure they are up to date with recommended pertussis vaccines.
According to DOH, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that Hawaii’s 2022 to 2023 kindergarten coverage rate for DTaP was 87% compared to a national average of 92.7% increasing risk for disease spread in the community.
If diagnosed with pertussis, take the prescribed antibiotics and avoid contact with others until you are no longer contagious. Bacteria can be spread from the start of the very first symptoms for up to three weeks after coughing fits begin. Taking antibiotics early can shorten the amount of time one is contagious.
CDC recommendations for good hygiene to prevent the spread of any bacteria are to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throwing away the tissue right away; never cough into your hands, and instead cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow if you don’t have a tissue; wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Visit the CDC website for information on symptoms and treatment.