Twenty people of all ages were recently vaccinated in the Mattole Valley after infants were diagnosed with pertussis, also known as “whooping cough.”

Dr. Richard Sheinman diagnosed the first Mattole case in April. As more cases were reported, Southern Humboldt’s Senior Public Health Nurse Shirley Hillman began working with the community to stop the spread of the disease. Since April, 14 cases of pertussis have been reported to Public Health.

Mattole Valley School Principal Glenda Short invited the Humboldt County Public Health Branch to meet with families and provide information about the illness and how it can be prevented. Three public heath nurses were able to put on a presentation for about 30 residents. Twenty residents ranging in age from two to 65 were immunized.

”Parents want the best for their children. They need their questions answered. This gathering was a fantastic opportunity to address their concerns,” said Hillman.

Pertussis begins like a mild cold, with runny nose, sneezing, and mild cough. After a week or two, the nagging cough worsens and may occur in explosive bursts that sometimes end with gagging and a high-pitched whoop as the cougher gasps for air. Infants are particularly at risk for the complications of pertussis. Adolescents and adults may not become as ill as babies, but they often are the carriers of the illness that infects babies.

”Cases of whooping cough appear each year in Humboldt County, but every three or four years there is an increase in the number of cases,” according to Mary McKenzie, one of the public health nurses who attended the Mattole clinic.

”Four years ago a similar outbreak of whooping cough started in Eastern Humboldt and spread to other parts of the county. In that year’s outbreak, 66 cases were diagnosed and seven infants were hospitalized with complications of pertussis,” McKenzie said.

Pertussis is easily preventable. Infants, who are at the greatest risk of death from pertussis, should begin receiving the vaccine series at two months of age. The next four doses come at four, six, 15-18 months, and one sometime around four to six years.

There is also a pertussis booster now available for teens and adults.

”We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Dr. Scheinman and Principal Short who worked tirelessly to support their community’s health and to facilitate this unique and successful event,” Hillman said.