The number of cases of whooping cough in Riley County more than doubled over the weekend.
Eight individuals, mostly Infants and young children, have displayed symptoms of the disease known as pertussis.
That’s Riley County health administrator Suzanne Kufahl says taking simple measures such as making sure you are up on your immunizations will go a long way in ridding the community of the disease. It’s now recommended people age 11-64 be immunized with the T-dap vaccine, which stands for tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis.
“Vaccinations are available, readily available, at physicians’ offices or the health department,” Kufahl said. “You don’t need an appointment to get vaccinated at the health department. And we have vaccine available so children would not have to pay.”
KMAN News first reported the initial case last Wednesday in a six-week-old infant, which was followed quickly by reports of a student at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary in Manhattan.
Whooping cough is a bacterial disease that is easily transmitted from person to person. It spreads through the air during talking, sneezing or coughing.
For additional information, you can contact the Riley County health department at (785) 776-4779, or by visiting the CDC website.
