Pertussis

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing. The infection typically starts like a cold, with a runny nose, sneezing, and mild cough. The cough lasts 1-2 weeks and then worsens, occurring in fits sometimes followed by a whooping noise, gagging or vomiting.

The disease can be very serious in children less than 1 year of age where it can cause lung infections and, less often, seizures or inflammation of the brain. In rare cases, pertussis can result in death, especially in infants. Our Data and Statistics page highlights areas where pertussis is high in our community. Make sure you and your family are up to date with your pertussis-containing vaccines. Additional information and resources have been pulled together by VDH’s Division of Immunization.

 

 

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