Whooping cough cases increase in Whitman County

PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University has seen an increase in the total number of confirmed whooping cough cases on campus. The new total currently sits at 18 and is expected to increase.

With the unexpected outbreak, WSU students are left to question whether they are at risk of
exposure to the bacteria.

One issue with the outbreak is it has many similar symptoms to the common cold. Many
students are unsure about how to tell if a sickness is whooping cough or just a simple cold or other illness. According to the CDC, the biggest clue that sickness might be whooping cough is the violent and uncontrollable coughing fits that appear around a week after initial symptoms start to show.

The CDC says the best way to prevent whooping cough is to receive the TDAP vaccine for adults, or the DTaP vaccine for children under 6 years old. The vaccine does decrease over
time and people should schedule a booster shot every 10 years. Pregnant women and infants are at the highest risk for whooping cough cases.

Cougar Health Services offer whooping cough tests and also recommend that students
living in resident halls or fraternities and sororities on campus be extra cautious when it comes to living in shared spaces with many people.

Besides the vaccine, according to the CDC, the best way to help stop the spread of
whooping cough is to routinely wash your hands and stay home if you feel unwell. If you must be in public a mask is recommended.