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About Pertussis
Pertussis, also called “whooping cough,” incidence has been increasing across the United States. There have been 26 infant pertussis deaths in Texas since 2000 in 21 different counties. During this time period there were numerous hospitalizations of Williamson County residents due to pertussis, but no pertussis deaths. Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Health Service Region 7 (HSR 7) has experienced a higher increase than average for both the United States and Texas (see chart below). HSR 7 is one of the eight health service regions of the Department of State Health Services, serving a 30 county area in Central Texas, including Williamson County. The pertussis epidemic is one of the most important challenges facing public health departments.
Pertussis Incidence It is unclear why the number of pertussis cases being reported to health departments has risen. Part of the increase may be due to an actual increase in the incidence of pertussis or the severe symptoms of the disease, increasing the likelihood that a case is reported. Increased awareness and changes in laboratory testing may also be responsible for more pertussis cases being reported. Regardless of the reasons, the increase in the number of hospitalizations and infant deaths attributed to pertussis leave little doubt that pertussis is a serious public health problem.
 What's Being Done
Public health and medical providers are addressing the pertussis epidemic by:
- Promoting age-appropriate immunization of infants and children with DTaP
(diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine.
- • Promoting immunization of adults with a new vaccine (Tdap). Tdap was licensed in 2005, and is the first vaccine for adults and adolescents that protects against pertussis in addition to tetanus and diphtheria. Immunity against pertussis acquired from childhood vaccine fades. As a consequence, the disease is still common in teenagers and adults. Every year, as many as 1 million teenagers and adults in the U.S. are infected with pertussis.
- Maintaining disease surveillance systems to identify cases and outbreaks
quickly.
- Raising awareness of pertussis in the medical community and general
public.
- Responding aggressively to outbreaks, identifying household members and
others in close contact with infected persons. Antibiotics may lower the
probability of contacts getting sick.
Pertusis Data
DSHS Pertussis Fact Sheet
- Provides information on the symptoms of pertussis, treatment, and prevention.
Pertussis
Trends & Statistics presents historical pertussis statistics for Williamson County. This information is based on surveillance data collected by both WCCHD and the Austin Travis County Health and Human Services Department for all of Williamson County, including areas annexed by the City of Austin.
Pertussis Updates provides the surveillance updates for the current year based on information collected by WCCHD.
For more information contact the WCCHD Disease Surveillance Team
at (512) 943-3660 or email Mindy Powell, CDMT Team Lead.
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