UPDATE: Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 11:45 a.m.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department detailed on Aug. 7 that five new cases of whooping cough have been reported in the last week, bringing the total to 57 cases since April 26.
UPDATE: Tuesday, July 9 at 2:15 p.m.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department reported that Fayette County remains in a pertussis, known as whooping cough, outbreak.
The department detailed that five new confirmed cases of whooping cough have been reported in the last week, marking a total of 43 confirmed cases since April 26.
UPDATE: Tuesday, June 25 at 2 p.m.
After a surge of pertussis or whooping cough cases were reported last week, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department announced on Tuesday that Fayette County has had a week without any new reported whooping cough cases.
This is the first time since the first week of May that the area has had a week with no reported cases, according to the health department.
UPDATE: Wednesday, June 19 at 10:30 a.m.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department reports that a whooping cough outbreak remains in the county.
The health department says there were 5 new cases in the last week, for a total of 32 confirmed cases since April 26.
UPDATE: Tuesday, June 11 at 2 p.m.
On Tuesday the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department reported that "Lexington has more pertussis, or whooping cough, cases in the last six weeks than the previous five years combined!"
The department detailed that Fayette County has 27 confirmed reported cases since April 26, with six reported in the past week. The department noted that this number is compared to 16 confirmed cases the previous five years.
The department reminded the community that whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by coughing and sneezing. Caregivers in central Kentucky should be aware of the illness's signs and symptoms while ensuring that their kids are up-to-date with their vaccines or are fully vaccinated with the booster, the department added.
Learn more at www.LFCHD.org/pertussis and www.cdc.gov/pertussis.
Original Story:
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department advised the community that an outbreak of "pertussis," known as whooping cough, has hit Lexington, as seven new cases have been confirmed in the last week.
The department detailed on social media that the respiratory illness is spread by coughing and sneezing. With the seven new cases, Fayette County now has 21 confirmed reported cases of whooping cough since April 26.
Further, officials with the department said that the pertussis vaccine is part of routine immunization schedule for school-age children and a booster is recommended for kids ages 11 and older.
"The vaccine's immunity tends to decrease over time, making the booster important for older children and adults, so talk to your provider to find out if you need a new dose," the post read.
