There are 6 confirmed cases of whooping cough (pertussis) in Presque Isle County, all in children ≤4 years.
Please have a heightened suspicion for this diagnosis when evaluating a patient with cough of unusual duration, intensity, or whooping quality, particularly in those who are unimmunized or when sufficient immunization may have waned.
Whenever possible, suspected cases of pertussis should have a deep nasopharyngeal swab obtained for PCR analysis and/or bacterial culture.
All confirmed, probable, or suspected cases of pertussis should be reported to your local health department, and education to the patient regarding risk to unvaccinated children should be discussed.
We need your help to encourage parents to keep up to date on vaccinating their children against preventable illnesses. Please talk to every patient, every visit, every time about immunizations. Help us keep one another healthy.