SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Whooping cough is on the rise in certain parts of South Dakota. Health experts say what you can do to keep safe.
South Dakota has confirmed 77 whooping cough cases this year as of October 28. That’s a 208% increase compared to 2023.
A little over a week ago, a message went out to students at South Dakota State University, letting them know about multiple cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, on campus. There were also cases across town at Brookings High School.
Avera Pediatrician, Dr. Rick Kooima said in an interview with KELOLAND News that they are seeing reports of increased levels of whooping cough not only locally but nationwide.
“There has been a fairly dramatic increase in the amount of Pertussis going on. Some folks are saying that even a 100% increase in reported cases,” Kooima said. “We’ve certainly been hearing and seeing a lot more it this fall than we have in the past.”
He added that most people receive their injections while they are young but might have to re-up it as they get older.
“Most folks should have gotten vaccinated as children, so the standard series is 5 injections before 5 years old and then a booster injection is done prior to entry into middle school typically at 11 years old,” Kooima said. “There is no standard recommendation for boosters to be done except for pregnant women.”
Kooima said while the vaccine does work, it’s not perfect.
“There is no clear guidance from the Center for Disease Control about doing a Pertussis vaccine and certainly for adults, even grey-haired adults, there’s not a strong recommendation that we get a Pertussis vaccine,” Kooima said. “Pertussis vaccine is one of those in our arsenal that doesn’t produce great long-term immunity providing immunity for around 5 years.”
Koomia said that the most at risk are those that are under a year old and the disease can get fairly severe disease. He added that the biggest thing for most people is the cough, Pertussis can last as long as 3 months and the best way to prevent getting the Whooping Cough is to keep up to date on your vaccinations.
He added that some of the symptoms are a cold or runny nose as well as violent coughing fits and that if it’s caught early enough treatments are available.
“If you have had close contact with someone who has had Pertussis and you have a cough that’s been lingering on for a week to 10 days that’s not improving it’s a good idea to see your health care provider,” Koomia said. “If you do have Pertussis, there is a treatment with antibiotics in the first 3 weeks of the disease.”
KELOLAND News reached out to the South Dakota Department of Health and will update this story as additional information becomes available.
