Pertussis outbreak downgraded

EPHRATA – The Grant County Health District has downgraded the pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak of 2010-2012. The number of cases has declined since October.

However, Public Information Officer Theresa Fuller said Grant continues to experience a higher number of cases than neighboring counties.

In the five years before 2010, Fuller said, the county experienced 1-4 cases per year. There were 29 cases in 2011 and 57 during the 16-month outbreak period.

Fuller said the health district urges residents to remain vigilant and watch for signs of whooping cough. She added that it is a vaccine preventable disease.

For information about pertussis, you may visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.granthealth.org/pertussis.html"www.granthealth.org/pertussis.html.

“It takes every person to care about preventing pertussis,” MPH Community Public Health Manager Shawta Sackett said.