Warnings about the bacterial infection come amid an increase in the number of kids falling behind on vaccines in Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon health officials are warning about a sharp increase in pertussis cases across the state — urging Oregonians to get vaccinated amid a 770% increase in reported cases, the Oregon Health Authority announced Thursday.
As of May 29, 178 pertussis cases have been reported to OHA in 2024, compared to 20 cases reported at that time in 2023.
The warnings about pertussis — also known as whooping cough — come amid an increasing number of Oregon children falling behind on immunizations, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
“Our concern is with how quickly we jumped to such a high number of pertussis cases, which tells us that the disease is doing what it does best: spreading fast and taking a greater toll on under-vaccinated persons,” said Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at Oregon Health Authority’s public health division.
Among the nine counties with reported cases to date, Lane County leads with 64 cases, followed by Multnomah County (41), Clackamas County (33), Deschutes County (15), Washington County (13), and Jefferson County (8).
School-aged children and adolescents account for 92 (52%) of cases and among that group, 51 (55%) are up to date with pertussis vaccinations, OHA said.
Health officials noted there are a few factors contributing to the increase in cases.
“Part of it, at least, is that we’re no longer in the COVID era where we had all these restrictions; people masking everywhere, businesses closed, large gatherings precluded,” Cieslak said. “We had kind of a hiatus, a really low point in pertussis, we had never seen such low numbers during that period and now they’re kind of bouncing back to normal.”
While there is a sharp increase in cases, OHA said the number of cases so far in 2024 is roughly in line with the number of cases seen during similar time frames in the pre-pandemic years with 93 cases in 2019 and 248 cases in 2018.
“Before COVID, we would have peaks in the disease incidence every three to five years and the case counts could get really high. Back in 2012, we had 910 cases for the year and that was a really bad year. It’s too early to say whether this is going to be just as bad a year, but we are seeing a lot of cases right now,” Cieslak said.
Infants have the highest risk of pertussis-related complications and death, and have the highest incidence rate, OHA said. Between 2003 and 2023, infants made up 12% of cases and 76% of pertussis hospitalizations.
Oregon pertussis deaths have been limited to infants, with five deaths that have occurred since 2003, according to OHA.
The state health agency encourages everyone to get the vaccine, noting those who are pregnant can get the Tdap shot, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. People who are 10 years old and older are also recommended to receive a single Tdap dose.
“The ones who tend to get hospitalized with [pertussis] are infants, especially infants who are too young to be vaccinated and that’s why we’re putting the word out that cases are on the increase because that can be prevented if pregnant women will get vaccinated at 27 to 36 weeks’ gestation. They will make antibodies when they get vaccinated and pass them across the placenta to the baby and protect the baby right from the moment of birth,” Cieslak explained.
Among 16 infant cases reported in Oregon to date in 2024, one mother had a documented dose of Tdap during the pregnancy, according to OHA.
“Normally, we vaccinate infants at two, four, six months of age and then once again when they’re toddlers at 15 to 18 months and then another dose at pre-school. But it’s those infants who are less than six months of age that haven’t had the complete series [of the vaccine] that are really at risk,” Cieslak furthered.
For adults, pertussis symptoms can include a cough, or coughing fits, that lasts longer than a typical cold, but for infants, the infection can be life-threatening, Cieslak said.
Amid the sharp rise in pertussis cases, Oregon is also seeing an increasing number of children falling behind on their vaccines, according to OHA.
“Despite the CDC recommendation to prioritize early childhood well-child visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, a decreasing trend in up-to-date rates of childhood immunizations since the peak in 2020 highlight that an increasing number of children have fallen behind in their immunizations,” according to OHA.
This includes a series of vaccines against 14 potentially serious illnesses including diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B.
In 2018, 68.8% of Oregon children were up to date on vaccines, which increased to 71.2% in 2019. This peaked in 2020 at 71.3% before declining to 68.3% in 2023.
Among vaccines in the recommended early childhood series, OHA said PCV — which protects against pneumococcal disease — had the lowest up-to-date rate, driving down the series completion date.
Officials said this may be because of the four doses required to complete the PCV vaccine series and because the vaccine is not required for school.
OHA notes some people may face barriers to vaccine access such as challenges getting an appointment at a local clinic or if they don’t have insurance. Others may delay or forgo vaccination for religious or personal reasons.
With 68% of kids vaccinated in 2023, OHA said they want all kids to receive immunizations — noting some states have achieved vaccination rates greater than 95%.
