Lincoln County health officials are warning the public about a sudden spike in whooping cough and urging people to ask their physicians about getting vaccinated.
In 2017-18, Lincoln County had one confirmed case of whooping cough. So far this summer, county health officials said, there are six laboratory-confirmed cases and four suspected cases.
Whooping cough – called pertussis by medical providers — is a highly infectious disease that passes from person to person via contact and from an infectious person coughing and sneezing.
Pertussis can be life threatening to babies, with complications that include pneumonia, brain damage and death. Adolescents and adults who contract pertussis often will have a violent, persistent cough that lasts for months and may have complications.
People who are infected with pertussis are the most infectious one week before any symptoms occur and for two weeks after the cough begins. The bacteria that causes pertussis can remain on surfaces for 2- 3 days after an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.
Children and adolescents are required to have immunizations to attend public schools, so outbreaks do not generally happen in schools and childcare facilities, county health officials said. People over 11 years of age need a booster every 10 years.
People can get whooping cough vaccinations from their doctor, at pharmacies and at Lincoln County Public Health clinics in Newport and Lincoln City. Once school starts, students can also get them at county-operated clinics at the four high schools in Lincoln County.
