3 reported cases of whooping cough

APP LAKEWOOD – Ocean County had three reported cases of whooping cough last week centered in Lakewood's Orthodox Jewish community, according to local health officials.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection that causes violent coughing fits and a characteristic "whooping" sound as sick  people struggle to breathe, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The infection can be deadly in infants.

In response to the recent cases, the Ocean County Health Department is urging adults who have contact with babies and small children to receive a Tdap vaccination.



“A lot of adults don’t know that they have whooping cough," said Leslie Terjesen, public information officer for the health department. “When you’re around babies, they’re not fully immunized.”
Because protection against pertussis wears off over time, the Tdap vaccine is recommended for all adults, teenagers, preteens and pregnant women who will be around a new baby.

"It is especially dangerous for infants under 6 months of age, who are too young to be well protected by vaccines for whooping cough," Ocean County Health Department coordinator Daniel Regenye said in statement.

Health department officials believe the whooping cough cases here are connected to an outbreak in Brooklyn's Orthodox Jewish communities, where 109 cases were reported between October 2014 and October 2015, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Between July and October, cases there were on the rise. Ninety percent of Brooklyn's cases were found in children and more than half of those children were not vaccinated nor up to date on their pertussis vaccines.

Whooping cough can be difficult to diagnose, because people who previously had the disease or were vaccinated may have milder symptoms, according to New York's health department.

In addition, it can be difficult to control. People with pertussis are infectious for up to three weeks, or up to five days after they begin antibiotic treatment, according to the New York health department.

Back in Ocean County

This isn't whooping cough's first time circulating in Ocean County. In 2012, whooping cough spread through the northern portion of the county. In 2010, there were cases reported here during a national outbreak, according to the Ocean County Health Department.

“We have the opportunity to stay one step ahead," said Terjesen. “We’re going to do everything that we can, as the health department, to protect our residents.”

According to the health department, pregnant women need Tdap vaccines with every pregnancy. Protective antibodies will be passed to the fetus before birth.

All family members and visitors are advised to get a Tdap vaccine before the baby is born, though they need the vaccine only once. Babysitters and children in daycare should also be vaccinated, according to the health department.


The Ocean County Health Department offers Tdap vaccinations to anyone over the age of 19 every first and third Tuesday of each month between 1 and 4 p.m. Appointments are not necessary.