A western Umatilla County resident was diagnosed with pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, earlier this month.
Meghan DeBolt, county public health director, said the person started feeling symptoms over Thanksgiving and was diagnosed with pertussis in the beginning of December.
Over the course of the person’s sickness the adult stayed home and minimized contact with others.
“We were lucky,” DeBolt said.
Although some symptoms still persist, DeBolt said the person has already been treated with antibiotics.
Umatilla County isn’t the only area dealing with whooping cough. According to a press release, there have been two confirmed cases of pertussis in Walla Walla County, including a 5-month old victim. DeBolt said infants and young children are especially vulnerable to the highly contagious disease, making vaccinations imperative.
While pertussis initially exhibits the symptoms of the common cold, it eventually causes low-grade fever, vomiting and extreme coughing. The colloquial name for the disease comes from the sharp intake of breath after coughing, which resembles a “whoop.”
