Pertussis (or whooping cough) has been shown to be more common than many people think. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is estimating that there were 6 times as many cases reported in 2024 as there were in 2023. Although many believe whooping cough only affects young children, all ages can be at risk, which is why vaccinations are recommended for a wide variety of individuals. People with Pertussis do not need to have a "whoop" sound to their cough to have it and many times symptoms are similar to a common cold with a runny nose or a fever. Testing is very important for rapid detection and treatment with appropriate antibiotics to help prevent further spread.

Cases of reportable disease in the state of Ohio are reported by providers and laboratories to local health departments using a system called Ohio Disease Report System (ODRS). This allows for local health departments (LHDs) to accurately monitor and investigate any case of disease requiring follow-up, isolation/exclusion, or guidance to prevent further transmission. This also allows LHDs to collect accurate data on how many cases of certain disease they have in their county to create graphs like the one you see! Using data from previous years, public health professionals can create threshold data to get a detailed prediction of what is “normal” for their county during a specific period.

Cases of Pertussis are reported to the health department as a reportable condition. When cases are reported, Licking County Health Department (LCHD) calls cases and discusses travel or congregated settings to help identify potential outbreaks since Pertussis is highly contagious. Schools and camps will receive notification anytime it is identified a case of Pertussis had symptoms while attending to help keep parents and guardians vigilant for whooping cough in their own kids. LCHD also ensures that proper treatment is prescribed for cases and if necessary, isolation until treatment is completed to keep others from getting sick.

Licking County Health Department (LCHD) works with schools across the district, especially during the school year, to help prevent outbreaks and identify cases when needed. LCHD works with providers to ensure they are aware of any patterns with cases and if testing may be warranted. Lastly, LCHD relies on parents to ensure their kids take their antibiotics and keep kids home from school if they are too ill to attend. This can prevent illness in schools and keep kids healthy throughout the school year!