The Fond du Lac County Health Department expects the number of whooping cough cases in Fond du Lac County to increase. The Department announced last week that it was working with 15 cases of pertussis and their providers to ensure they are treated with appropriate antibiotics and to minimize any exposure to others in the community until they are no longer contagious. Public Health Services supervisor Michelle Robbins says infected people can spread pertussis up to three weeks after the cough begins if they are not treated with the appropriate antibiotics. Robbins tells WFDL news so far all of the cases involve adolescents. Robbins says early treatment can reduce the severity of symptoms. Pertussis can affect people of all ages. However, it can be very serious for pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals and babies less than one year old.
