With whooping cough cases on the rise, Tulare County public health officials urge vaccination

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Cases of whooping cough are on the rise across Tulare County, according to local public health officials.

"We're seeing a lot of cases in individuals under the age of 1 - infants - and that number has been going up this year," said Dr. Thomas Overton, deputy public health officer with Tulare County Public Health. "We want to make sure that pregnant women, as well as their family members, are vaccinated."

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial disease that spreads through coughing. It can cause severe illness and may be deadly.

"It definitely can be, especially for children under 6 and the elderly," said Dr. Theodor Yasko, chief resident at Adventist Health Tulare.

Yasko emphasized the importance of community-wide vaccination.

"Children younger than 6 months are too young to receive the vaccine, so they rely on the community to be protected," he said.

While good hygiene and staying home when sick can help reduce transmission, doctors say prevention through vaccination is key.

"The uptick in whooping cough and pertussis infections is attributed to a decrease in vaccinations," Yasko said. "In communities with lower vaccination rates, we see an increase in infections. It's important to note that there is no risk of autism from the Tdap vaccine; it has been thoroughly studied for a long time."

As local school districts prepare to welcome students back, officials are urging parents to be vigilant for symptoms.

"We want to make sure all our students and staff are healthy going into the school year," said Cristina Gutierrez with Visalia Unified School District. "Getting vaccinated is not only a requirement, but it helps keep our student populations healthy all year long."

Tulare County health officials encourage residents to speak with their doctors if they have questions about the vaccine. Vaccines are typically covered by insurance and are also available for free at various county events.

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