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Polk County health staff report 14 pertussis cases locally amid 2,136 statewide in 2024
Summary
Public health staff reported 2,136 pertussis cases in Wisconsin in 2024 and 14 in Polk County (mostly under age 18); staff said 13 of the 14 Polk cases were recorded as vaccinated and described household prophylaxis and targeted contact tracing for high-risk people.
Ellen, presenting the communicable disease report, told the committee that pertussis (whooping cough) is currently a top concern. "Pertussis cases there have been 2,136 in Wisconsin in 2024," she said, and added that Polk County has recorded 14 pertussis cases from August through the prior day, with most cases in people 18 and younger.
Ellen said Polk County had no respiratory-illness hospitalizations in November but by early December reported an influenza A hospitalization and a COVID hospitalization. She emphasized the county’s contact-tracing and prophylaxis strategy: household contacts of a pertussis case are offered antibiotics prophylactically and the health department identifies high-risk contacts (pregnant people, immunocompromised individuals) for follow-up.
When asked about vaccination status, Ellen said the county is tracking vaccinations and that 13 of the 14 local cases were recorded as vaccinated; she noted timing of prior vaccination (how long ago it occurred) affects susceptibility. "I think my question in my mind is, like, when did you have that vaccination?" she said, explaining that a distant childhood vaccination differs from a recent booster.
County members asked about school-district clustering; Ellen said cases are spread across multiple districts and sometimes involve individuals not associated with any school. The county did not adopt new policies at the meeting but encouraged awareness, vaccination where recommended, and case follow-up by public-health staff.
