Whooping Cough Cases on the Rise in Minnesota, Doctors Encourage Getting Vaccinated

DULUTH, Minn. — Whooping cough is on the rise in Minnesota and as respiratory illness season ramps up doctors at Essentia Health say it is important to remember to stay up to date on vaccines and stay home when sick.

Over 1,200 cases of Pertussis or whooping cough have been reported across Minnesota. Essentia Health says they haven’t seen numbers like this in 8 years. It often starts off mimicking a cold, with symptoms like sneezing, a runny nose, fever and a cough. But the cough turns severe after one or two weeks and can last for a month or longer. Unlike a cold, it can be treated with antibiotics. It is primarily affecting younger ages but can affect adults as well. However, an Essentia doctor says infants are the most vulnerable.

“And so, an infant who develops whooping cough otherwise known as Pertussis can have apnea spells, really have increased cough and increased work of breathing and often need to be hospitalized when you’re an infant,” said Dr. Sharnell Valentine, Essentia Health pediatrician.

In addition to whooping cough, doctors recommend taking precautionary measures against other respiratory viruses such as RSV. Essentia Health is offering RSV vaccines for both children and pregnant or higher risk adults.

“Think of it as a medicine that will last 5 months in the body so, that if your baby was exposed to RSV, they’re less likely to become ill, and definitely less likely to end up in the emergency room or be hospitalized for RSV. About 2 out of 10 infants under age 6 months in the United States will be hospitalized for RSV. And about two thirds of all kids under age 2 will get RSV in their life,” said Dr. Valentine.

Essentia Health says if you have any questions about whooping cough or RSV to contact your primary care physician or medical provider.