Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) is alerting the community about an outbreak of pertussis, also known as whooping cough. In the last eight weeks, there have been 43 cases in Dane County, primarily affecting teenagers.
The following steps are recommended to prevent the spread of pertussis:
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Check vaccination status for children (DTaP vaccine) and adolescents/adults (Tdap vaccine), which can be found on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry;
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Speak with a health care provider after possible exposure or symptom onset; and
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Stay at home if sick, covering the mouth when coughing and washing hands often.
Those who aren’t up to date on immunizations should make an appointment with a medical provider or a local pharmacy. PHMDC provides free vaccinations for children on BadgerCare and those who are uninsured.
