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Stay home from work or school if you are sick and make sure your family is up to date on vaccines.
KITSAP COUNTY, WA — Whooping cough (pertussis) is spreading in Kitsap and surrounding counties this winter, with clusters of cases reported in schools and sports teams.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious illness caused by bacteria. People with whooping cough typically have symptoms similar to a cold and can develop a severe cough that lasts for weeks.
"Whooping cough is one of many seasonal illnesses spreading widely in our community," said Lynn Pittsinger, director of Community Health for Kitsap Public Health District. "Whooping cough is of special concern because it can cause dangerous breathing problems for babies and young children."
Infants are at greatest risk for becoming severely sick from whooping cough. While most infants with whooping cough do not have a cough, they can struggle to breathe. About one-third of infants who get whooping cough need treatment in a hospital.
Antibiotics can be used to treat whooping cough and prevent people who are sick from spreading the bacteria to others. If you or a family member are sick, talk to your healthcare provider about testing and treatment options.
Preventing whooping cough
Whooping cough spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Without treatment, a person can spread whooping cough for more than three weeks after becoming sick.
You can help prevent the spread of whooping cough by:
Staying home from work or school when you are sick
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
Making sure your family is up to date on vaccines
Washing hands frequently
Covering coughs with your elbow or a tissue
Wearing a mask in crowded places
Vaccines for whooping cough
Staying up to date on vaccines is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from whooping cough. Whooping cough vaccines are recommended for all ages. Contact your healthcare provider or visit a clinic if you need a vaccine.
Vaccines are free in Washington for children 18 and younger. Assistance is available for adults who do not have insurance or whose insurance does not cover vaccines.
Kitsap Public Health is offering two no-cost vaccination clinics for children in February. You can learn more and book an appointment at kitsappublichealth.org/clinic.
Whooping cough is spreading widely in Washington
Whooping cough activity has increased sharply in Washington state and the United States this season. Statewide, more than 2,000 cases were reported in 2024, compared with 87 reported in 2023.
Twenty whooping cough cases have been confirmed in Kitsap County since October 2024. More than three out of four of those cases were among school-aged children.
Kitsap Public Health has responded to pertussis cases in at least five Kitsap schools this season. When whooping cough is confirmed in group settings, such as schools, we work with the organization to notify people who might have been exposed to the disease.
School vaccination data showed that the percentage of Kitsap kindergartners who were up to date on whooping cough vaccination declined from 2019 to 2023, increasing the risk for whooping cough to spread among school-aged children.
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