Leah Androski and Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
In 2024, the number of whooping cough cases in Florida soared. From Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024, the Florida Department of Health reported 715 cases of pertussis – an eight-fold increase over the year before, which had 85 cases. The surge in whooping cough cases may have been caused by a decrease in people receiving the whooping cough vaccine.
Whooping cough or “pertussis” is a respiratory illness that gets its name from the primary symptom of coughing until a person needs to inhale, which can cause the distinct “whooping” sound. Other symptoms include fever, runny nose and nasal congestion. Babies younger than a year old and people with preexisting medical conditions are at a higher risk of developing a severe case of whooping cough.
Pertussis can be spread when a person with the illness sneezes or coughs, which releases the pertussis bacteria into the air. Antibiotics are used to treat whooping cough. Healthcare officials recommend treating the whooping cough early, to ensure treatment is effective and avoid a hospital visit. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also recommends getting the whooping cough vaccine to prevent the spread of the virus. Anyone can get vaccinated at any point in their lives for the whooping cough.
More information about the Tdap vaccine is available from several sources, such as your healthcare provider, local clinics and pharmacies. The Florida Department of Health – Jefferson, located at 1255 W. Washington St., has Tdap for adults and children; to make an appointment, call (850) 342-0170. The CVS Pharmacy on 1390 S. Jefferson St. also offers Tdap; to schedule an appointment online visit www.cvs.com.
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