MOSES LAKE - The Grant County Health District confirmed a case of pertussis (whooping cough) in an adult who spent time at Sage Point Elementary School on March 22 and 23.

No one has been hospitalized, but in an effort to control the spread of the disease, Grant County Health Office Alexander Brzezny recommends anyone who has come in close contact with someone infected with pertussis should receive antibiotic treatment and be tested for the disease. Pertussis "Tdap" vaccinations are recommended for anyone whose vaccinations are not up to date.

Reported cases of the disease are steadily rising in Washington, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

There is not a pertussis outbreak in Grant County at this time, but quick action is needed to control the spread of the disease, stated Shawta Sackett, the health district's public health manager and epidemiologist.

The health district downgraded Grant County's pertussis outbreak in January.

Twenty-nine whooping cough cases were reported in Grant County in 2011. During the 16 months of the outbreak, there were 57 cases, including an infant death investigated by the health district. In the five years prior to 2010, only one to four cases per year were reported in Grant County.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by coughing or sneezing. It affects people of all ages, but most seriously affects infants who have not been vaccinated.

The vaccinations children receive wear off over time and the Department of Health recommends everyone age 11 and older receive the Tdap booster.

Yesterday, Mary Selecky, the state's secretary of health, announced that whooping cough has reached "epidemic levels" in Washington.

In 2012, 640 cases have been reported in 23 counties as of March 31. There were 94 cases during the same time period last year.

"We're very concerned about the continued rapid increase in reported cases," said Selecky. "This disease can be very serious for young babies, who often get whooping cough from adults and other family members. We want all teens and adults who haven't had Tdap to be vaccinated to help protect babies that are too young for the vaccine."

Recommended vaccines are offered at no cost to children under 19 through health care provider offices participating in the state's childhood vaccine program. Health care providers may charge office visit or administration fees. People who cannot afford the administration fee can ask their regular health care provider if they can waive that cost. Adults can check with their health plan to see if the cost of the pertussis vaccine is covered.

For more information, visit the health district's whooping cough web page at www.granthealth.org/pertussis.html or www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize/diseases/pertussis.