Protect Yourself from Whooping Cough

This week we told you about two confirmed cases of whooping cough in Muskingum County and now a local doctor talks about protecting yourself from the disease.

Dr.Vicki Whitacre from the Zanesville Muskingum County Health Department says that people should pay attention to cold like symptoms including runny nose, scratchy throat and mild fevers. She says after two weeks the symptoms will become more severe.

" It progresses and after about two weeks the cough becomes a really hard cough and it hurts even, and for very young children they will get a whoop which is where it got its name of whooping cough, " said Dr. Whitacre.

She says babies and young children are most susceptible to the disease because of their smaller airways and their immunizations have not yet kicked in. Parents and caregivers should take preventative measures to protect children from the problem.

"Well washing hands frequently, sneezing, or coughing into your elbow as opposed to your hands or using like a tissue and washing your hands after you cough or sneeze those are the main things and keeping some distance from people, " said Whitacre.

Along with paying attention to hygiene adults should get their T-DAP immunization every three to five years and children should receive their DPT shot at two months, four months and six months of age and again at a one year of age. For more information about Pertussis or whooping cough you can contact the center for disease control.