Gundersen sees slight rise in Pertussis cases

Healthcare workers at Gundersen Health System are seeing a slight rise in the number of cases of Pertussis or Whooping Cough this month compared to March.  

Although the numbers are down from last fall and winter, Brian Simmons, an Infection Preventionist at Gundersen Health System, said that it is important to know that Pertussis is still found in the community. 

Simmons said symptoms of Pertussis begin with having cold-like symptoms such as a cough and minor fever. Those symptoms linger and eventually develop into a deep cough-that whooping cough sound.   

He said that’s the point where most people are diagnosed with Pertussis.   

He said it usually affects those on both ends of the age spectrum-the very young who may not have completed their vaccination schedule or older people who might need a booster. It does sometimes affect the people in between those groups.  

Simmons said that people who are vaccinated or have good immune systems may only end up with typical cold-like symptoms or not be affected at all.  

He’s recommending people get vaccinated as it is the easiest way to avoid complications.  

“The more that we can get people vaccinated, it does a very good job of preventing you from seriously becoming ill with Pertussis or even actually becoming ill with Pertussis,” he said.      

Simmons urges people to practice good respiratory hygiene such as covering their cough and washing their hands frequently to protect themselves and others to help reduce the spread of the infection.  

He said that while they see cases primarily in the cold weather months into spring, Pertussis can appear any time of the year.