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Ann Arbor Public Schools is working with the Washtenaw County Health Department to monitor potential cases of pertussis after confirming eight cases within the district this month.
District spokesman Andrew Cluley said officials are investigating connections between cases and sharing the health department’s recommendations on prevention and symptom awareness with staff and families.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease that can be severe, particularly in young children.
Pertussis can spread easily among susceptible household members and in group settings like schools, childcare centers, workplaces and sports teams, said Juan Luis Marquez, the health department’s director, in an email to parents Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Pertussis is a disease of the respiratory tract caused by bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis is also known as “whooping cough,” due to the “whoop” sound made when the infected person tries to breathe after a hard coughing fit.
As of Oct. 1, the health department reported 43 cases of pertussis in Washtenaw County in 2019, with two of those cases requiring hospitalization. A total of 34 cases have involved those 19 years old and younger. In 2018, there were 82 cases of pertussis diagnosed in Washtenaw County through the month of September, and 87 cases overall.
Adolescents and adults are also at risk for infection with the disease since vaccine protection declines over time, according to the health department.
Laura Bauman, the health department’s epidemiology manager, said children are diagnosed with pertussis more often than adults because they are tested more often and due to the fact that the vaccine provided today is not as effective as the one offered two or three decades ago.
“People tend to think of it as a disease in children but it can be for all ages,” she said. “There might be a bit of testing bias because when adults have a cough, clinicians may not even think it’s pertussis because it’s primarily thought to be found in children.
“The newer vaccine is a good vaccine, but it’s not perfect, so it seems to allow a few more cases through than the vaccine that was used 20-30 years ago. It has fewer side effects, but the older vaccine appears to have given people better immunity.”
The health department advises people of all ages to contact their health care provider if they have the following symptoms:
- Intermittent cough
- Vomiting after coughing spells
- Cough lasting seven days or more
Pertussis is spread through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. The highest chance of it spreading happens during the early stage when symptoms resemble a cold. Symptoms can appear seven to 10 days after exposure, the health department says.
According to the Health Department, children under 18 months of age should have received four doses of pertussis vaccine. After the age of four, children should receive a fifth dose prior to entering kindergarten.