LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Health officials are asking parents and caregivers to keep a close eye out for symptoms of pertussis, or "whooping cough". They've declared an outbreak in Lexington.
So far, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department says, there have been nine confirmed pertussis cases since late April. Three cases were confirmed Monday. One was at Lafayette High School, another at St. Peter and Paul Catholic School, and the third was a person in the community in their 80s.
"For it to get to outbreak status, this is worse than we've seen in recent years. In school-age children, this is the first time we've had cases since February of 2022," said Kevin Hall, spokesperson for the department.
Hall said they expect as more people get tested, that number will keep growing. They want people to keep an eye out for illnesses that could be pertussis. The health department says it spreads through coughing or sneezing. The illness begins like a cold, but after a couple of weeks, the cough can become worse, leading to violent coughing where a person struggles to breathe.
"If you have a child who's been coughing for a week or two, it doesn't have to be a violent cough, just a nagging cough that they can't get relief from, it's time to go get checked out by your provider and be sure to ask them specifically to test for pertussis," Hall said.
They're also recommending people double check their vaccination status. They said the vaccine is routine and required for school-age kids. They also say any high-risk students who've been exposed should have preventative antibiotics.
"What we're worried about right now is, it's the end of the school year, so kids will be gathering at functions like graduation, parties, and different events, putting them at risk of spreading this to other people, so now is the time to take steps for protection," Hall said.
