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The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) sent a Provider Alert regarding an increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases on November 6, 2024. Healthcare providers should:
- Remain alert for patients with symptoms of pertussis.
- Test patients who may have pertussis and treat patients strongly suspected of having pertussis.
- Ensure patients are up-to-date with DTaP or Tdap vaccines.
This is an update to the Provider Alert sent in May 2024.
Current Pertussis Situation in Washington
There has been a total of 1,193 confirmed and probable cases of pertussis reported statewide during 2024 through 11/02/2024, compared to 51 cases reported by the same week in 2023. This represents a 21-fold increase in pertussis cases over the previous year. 31 of 39 counties have reported pertussis activity during 2024; however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that only approximately 10% of pertussis infections are identified and reported to public health.
Current information about pertussis in Washington state can be found in the DOH Weekly Pertussis Update. This report is updated every Friday.
Please contact vpd-cde@doh.wa.gov with any questions related to Pertussis cases or investigations; Contact immunenurses@doh.wa.gov with any questions regarding vaccination.
Thank you,
Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD) Program Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology Division of Disease Control and Health Statistics Washington State Department of Health Email: vpd-cde@doh.wa.gov (Monitored during business hours) Phone: 206-418-5500
And
Office of Immunization Division of Prevention and Community Health Washington State Department of Health Email: immunenurses@doh.wa.gov (monitored during business hours)
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