Public Health officials share concerns over whooping cough cases in Cass County

(Cass County, ND) -- Fargo Cass Public Health officials are alerting residents and health care providers after an increase in whooping cough cases in the county.

Cass County currently has three lab confirmed whooping cough cases, with five others unconfirmed at this time.  Public Health officials say the concern comes not from the numbers of cases, but due to their varying locations of discovery.

"None of our confirmed cases, that came in pretty rapidly, were exposed to one another, "said Brenton Nesemeier, an Epidemiologist from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. "We know it's in different pockets and in different age groups [...] None of [the patients] had anything in common; no common school, no common church services, no common activities outside of school [...] it might be more in the community than we actually think or our lab tests are showing."

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a disease that can present similarly to a severe cough due to its tendency to attack the lining of the patient's lungs. Intense cases of whooping cough will cause the patient to "whoop" as they attempt to breathe between the coughing. Health care officials say  the most severe symptoms do not present themselves in most cases, but people are often carriers for the virus without knowing it, and can spread it to vulnerable populations. This includes children less than a year old, pregnant people, and adults over the age of 65.

"In older adults and adolescents, it may just look like a common cold... "said Dr. Tracy Newman, A Health Officer for Fargo Cass Public Health," ...They could be walking around and exposing babies, not knowing. They also could go to the doctors office and we don't test for it [normally], because it is not in our normal differential."

Health care facilities in Cass County are normally screening for Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 cases during the early Fall and Winter months. Public health advocates like Nesemeier and Dr. Newman are encouraging those facilities to consider adding whooping cough screenings to that rotation.

Dr. Newman also stressed the possible impacts of a positive case of whooping cough outside the symptoms of the virus. She explains that schools, day cares, and other activities are notified of the positive diagnosis and of suspected cases, and will not allow those services or events to be attended.

"This can disrupt your life because we do enforce that in public health. Even symptomatic contacts of confirmed cases, if they are treated and reported, they too have to follow [protocol]," said Dr. Newman

Both Dr. Newman and Nesemeier encourage individuals and families to become vaccinated against whooping cough. Typical vaccinations in people older than 10-years old occur every 10-years at annual check-ups. Dr. Newman says if you are looking for a booster shot, or are looking for enhanced protection going into the holidays, to schedule a meeting with your doctor. Children as young as two-months old can be vaccinated against whooping cough, and parent are encouraged by health care officials to do so.