The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department’s latest update on the city’s whooping cough outbreak shows five new cases. That brings the total since April 26th to 32 – twice as many as were reported in the previous five years. Before Tuesday’s update, department spokesman Kevin Hall attributed much of the spike to increased awareness of the disease.
Right now, what we're seeing every week or more, people are paying attention to the symptoms. They're going to their provider, and they're asking to be tested for whooping cough or pertussis, and then those numbers are continuing to grow.”
Hall said the health department has stepped up outreach efforts for pertussis, which is nicknamed for the trademark cough some patients exhibit.
“We're not only telling the community members to be mindful of their symptoms and ask to be tested if they've had a cold or a cough that hasn't gone away for a week or two, but we're also working directly with the medical community in Lexington and throughout Central Kentucky to make sure that they're aware that this outbreak is happening.”
Hall said the pertussis vaccine provides protection for up to ten years, but less so over time.
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