A once common childhood disease that nearly disappeared is making a comeback in some parts of Kentucky, but it is easily preventable through vaccination.
A half century ago, whooping coughs would keep children out of school for weeks, but with the development of an effective vaccine, whooping cough — like many other once common childhood ailments — was nearly conquered.
However, Dr. Steven R. Katkowsky, regional district health director for Northern Kentucky, said 20 cases of whooping cough have been reported since January, putting the region on pace to have more than 100 cases this year. Katkowsky says more than half the cases were in infants 1 year old or younger.
In contrast, Katkowsky said Northern Kentucky averaged 25 cases of whooping cough, also called pertussis, from 2003-2009.
So what should parent do? Make sure their young children — particularly infants — are vaccinated for whooping cough when they received their shots for other childhood ailments, Katkowsky said.
Frankly, before reading the story about the latest outbreak of whooping cough, we had not even heard of the ailment for many years and thought it had been licked. However, complacency has opened the door for a comeback. It is time to help slam it by getting your child vaccinated.
