Minnesota is currently experiencing the highest number of whooping cough cases in over a decade, with 2,324 cases reported as of December 5. The majority of cases are in the Twin Cities metro area. Health officials anticipated this increase as whooping cough tends to peak every three to five years. The median age of those affected is 14, with 77 infants and 34 hospitalized individuals.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, can initially resemble a cold but leads to a prolonged cough. It is highly contagious, with those infected remaining so for the first 21 days of coughing or until they have completed five days of antibiotics. The state health department emphasizes the importance of vaccination in preventing and reducing the spread of the illness. Vaccination rates have declined in recent years among Minnesota kindergartners, raising concerns among officials.
Health officials advise pregnant women to receive the vaccine and for children to receive their vaccinations on time. The whooping cough vaccine is typically combined with tetanus and diphtheria vaccines, and adults are recommended to receive booster shots every 10 years.
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