Whooping cough cases on rise in Tennessee, adolescents at risk

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Whooping cough cases are on the rise in Tennessee. The numbers for this year, so far, are more than double than the number of total cases in all of last year.

For mom of three and an early elementary school teacher, Margaret Beagle, says she tries to do what she can to prevent her kids from getting sick.

”A lot of hand washing, a lot of reminders about hand-washing, so much hand washing,” said Beagle. “I cannot describe the amount of hand washing. A lot of sanitizing. A lot of lessons on hygiene how to use a tissue to wipe your nose how to sneeze into your elbow.”

She said once one gets sick, it’s just a matter of time, ”Some years, we’ve had to close our whole classroom because a high percentage of children have whopping cough, flu, strep or things like that. So, I think being careful at the beginning can stop those germs from spreading.”

The Metro Public Health Department says prevention is key when it comes to respiratory illnesses like whooping cough, which is a contagious bacterial disease.

Last year, there were 52 cases of whooping cough in Tennessee. This year to date there have already been 189 cases.

Interim Director of the department, Joanna Shaw-KaiKai said, ”There are multiple factors. We know during the pandemic people were going to less medical visits, so adults and children were getting less vaccinations. Also, during that time people were isolating more.”

The department says nationwide they’re seeing the same thing, “We’re seeing it to be more in the adolescent and adult population. The good thing is that there is antibiotics to treat it, but even better, there is a vaccine.”

Sometimes when prevention isn’t enough, Beagle and the department agree on trying to stay home if you’re sick.

Beagle said, ”I kept them home when they were sick as much as possible and I know that’s hard for working families, but just trying to keep them home and keep it contained.”

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