Rising Rates of Pertussis in Washington State

The State of Washington Department of Health has issued the following message for health care providers regarding pertussis in the state.

Dear Colleague:

Pertussis (whooping cough) is reaching epidemic levels in our state. So far in 2012 more than 600 cases have been reported, compared to fewer than 100 cases in the same time period in 2011. This puts us on track to have the highest number of cases in decades.

The disease affects people of all ages, but is most serious in infants. The rate of pertussis in infants in our state is nearly five times the overall rate of disease for all ages. Most infants get this disease from their parents or other family members.

We need your help in reducing the spread of this disease. Most people get a series of pertussis vaccines when they’re kids, but protection wears off over time. Vaccination is the key to stopping the spread of this disease. As a healthcare provider, your advice plays a vital role in your patients’ choice to get vaccinated. Help us protect infants from pertussis by:

• Vaccinating all women of childbearing age, including pregnant women, with a one-time dose of pertussis (Tdap) vaccine – A new recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) calls for pregnant women to get pertussis vaccine during in pregnancy (after 20 weeks gestation). Women who get Tdap before or during pregnancy pass on extra protection against pertussis to their babies rather than just the typical maternal antibodies transferred during pregnancy. For women who were not previously vaccinated with Tdap, vaccination during pregnancy is preferred, but it may also be given post-partum before discharge.
• Checking the immunization status of all your patients and vaccinate them if they are not up-to-date for pertussis – It’s especially important for anyone who has or anticipates close contact with babies to be current on their pertussis vaccine. This includes siblings of infants who should be up-to-date on DTaP. All adults should receive one dose of Tdap as well. Senior citizens who have close contact with children should also receive a dose of Tdap.
• Testing and treating suspected pertussis cases – Delays in recognizing and treating this disease can lead to increased spread and worse clinical outcomes. Report pertussis cases promptly to your local public health agency.
• Making sure your practice has a system in place to assure your staff and patients are up-to-date on all their immunizations – Be sure all your staff members get a Tdap. You can easily track all your young and adult patients’ vaccination status by using the Child Profile Immunization Registry. For more information or to register, call the Child Profile Help Desk at 1-800-325-5599/206-205-4141 or online (www.childprofile.org).
  For more pertussis information, please see the enclosed Key Information about Pertussis document or the Washington State Department of Health website (www.doh.wa.gov).

Find immunization training and information for professionals like us (www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/).