SCHUYLER COUNTY, MO -- Local public health officials have identified pertussis outbreaks in two Schuyler County Amish communities during the past two weeks. Our fact finder team discovered there were three laboratory confirmed cases and 14 suspected cases of pertussis.
While statewide incidences of pertussis is not currently in excess of the five-year median, 82 pertussis cases have been reported in all regions of Missouri over the past month. Of the 82 cases, 25 percent involved children under the age of one.
Schuyler County Health Department Administrator Brenda Wilson said the disease is sometime hard to detect.
“A lot of times I believe that adults may have pertussis and be misdiagnosed as being bronchitis” said Wilson. “Because it is acceptable to antibiotics, it is treated among others.”
Pertussis is very contagious and can cause severe disease or death in young children. It is important for children to get their immunizations.
“All children should get the vaccination” said Wilson. “In the past years we have really worked hard with the Amish communities and there has been a lot of progress. Adults should also get the immunization if they haven’t already.”
Pertussis begins with a mild upper respiratory tract symptoms and progresses to a cough.
For more information on pertussis, or whooping cough, visit the Missouri Department of Health website.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKTVO