Kentucky's Pertussis Outbreak Includes High Schools Students

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department recently announced a pertussis outbreak after 9 cases were confirmed since late April 2024. These cases include students attending local high schools.

“Any school-age children with symptoms of pertussis should stay home from school and visit their health care provider for evaluation, even if they have previously been vaccinated,” the health department said in a statement on May 20, 2024. 

Pertussis (Whooping cough) is a contagious respiratory illness that spreads quickly from person to person. The health department recommends preventive antibiotics for high-risk students exposed to pertussis. 

Kentucky requires school-age children to be vaccinated against pertussis. For protection, one dose of the Tdap vaccine is recommended for children ages 11 and above.

Throughout the United States, pertussis cases have been increasing in recent years.

The U.S. CDC reported 5,611 cases in 2023, significantly more than the 2,388 pertussis cases reported in 2022.

Internationally, pertussis outbreaks have continued in 2024.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), more than 32,000 pertussis cases were reported between January and March 2024. The ECDC data announced on May 8, 2024, indicates a nearly 10-fold increase in pertussis cases this year.