CHINOOK, Mont. (NMB) – One new case of whooping cough, or pertussis, has been confirmed in Blaine County. Public Health Nurse Janna McPherson-Hauer says that they have had eleven cases in the county so far this year, with most of them being confirmed in June.
McPherson-Hauer believes that they have done thorough contact investigations to determine who has come in contact with infected people to help manage the risk and doesn’t believe it will continue to spread. She says that the disease can possibly spread up to a month or so after an infected person starts antibiotics.
As of Wednesday morning, no cases have been reported in Hill County.
McPherson-Hauer encourages people to wash their hands, stay home when they’re sick and to get vaccinated if they haven’t already.
Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is spread through the air by coughing or sneezing. It poses a significant health risk for infants and young children and can be fatal. The most effective way to prevent pertussis is through vaccination, which are available for people over the age of six weeks.
