Lenawee County sees significant increase in whooping cough cases in 2024

(CBS DETROIT) Health authorities in Lenawee County are alerting citizens about a sharp increase of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, cases.

Compared to one case in 2023, the Lenawee County Health Department has reported 23 confirmed cases in 2024 as of Dec. 5. This year’s spike, according to county health authorities, “reflects broader trends, with high pertussis activity reported across Michigan and highlights the need for community awareness and preventive measures.”

More than 1,100 cases of pertussis this year had been confirmed by state health officials as of late November. The average annual number of whooping cough cases in the state from 2017 to 2019 was 596.

It might take five to ten days for symptoms of pertussis to manifest following exposure, and in the early stages, they may mimic a common cold. Children and babies may not cough, but they may experience breathing pauses that result in loss of breath or bluish skin. Coughing fits that are out of control are later symptoms.

Thanksgiving was the worst Thanksgiving week for whooping cough cases in a number of years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which stated that at least 364 pertussis illnesses were reported to health officials during that week.

In addition to individuals who have not had a dose as children or adults, the CDC advises that pregnant women, children, adolescents, and infants get the pertussis vaccine.

Only 65.6% of 19-month-olds received the four necessary doses of the Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP) vaccination, despite the fact that 82.9% of children had received their first dose by the time they were three months old, according to state health officials.

Joe Buczek works for CBS Detroit as the manager of digital content and promotion. The Leader and the Kalkaskian, the Oakland Press, the Morning Sun, the Grand Traverse Insider, and WWTV were among his prior employers.

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