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County Surpasses Record for Whooping Cough Cases

There were 192 cases of whooping cough reported in the county as of Wednesday.

 

It's not a record any county wants to break. 

This past week, the McHenry County Health Department reported the county surpassed its record for number of whooping cough cases with 192 with the highly infectious disease. The former record was set in 2004 with 191 cases. 

The outbreak has spread to neighboring counties.

Throughout the Chicago suburbs and the state, whooping cough cases continue to grow. According to a Triblocal article posted Monday, nearly 500 residents in McHenry, Lake and DuPage counties had whooping cough — "the most in more than five years."

The Illinois Department of Health reported 1,019 cases throughout the state as of Thursday, according to Triblocal.

As of Nov. 30, with 164 cases reported in the county, the most cases — 54 — were reported in Cary. The other communities with the most cases in the county included Woodstock with 34 whooping cough cases, Crystal Lake with 20 cases and Lake in the Hills with 15 cases. The health department has graphs detailing the breakdown of other communities affected.

Patch.com has additional information below on vaccination suggestions, symptoms, treatment and a timeline detailing the outbreak in McHenry County: 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides additional information on the whooping cough.

  • Is the whooping cough outbreak a matter of concern for you?

    (Voting has been closed for this question)
    • Yes, I'm worried about myself or my child getting whooping cough
        23 (57%)
    • No
        17 (42%)
    Total votes: 40
  • Have you received all your shots to be protected against the whooping cough (health officials encourage vaccines as a child and then one booster after the age of 11)?

    (Voting has been closed for this question)
    • Yes
        16 (55%)
    • No
        9 (31%)
    • I don't know
        4 (13%)
    Total votes: 29
  • Has your child received the whooping cough vaccine?

    (Voting has been closed for this question)
    • Yes
        139 (76%)
    • No
        42 (23%)
    Total votes: 181
  • For those who have not had their child properly vaccinated against the whooping cough, why?

    (Voting has been closed for this question)
    • I do not believe in vaccinations
        8 (61%)
    • My infant/young child has received some of his/her vaccines but still needs more to be fully protected
        0 (0%)
    • My child received his or her vaccine as an infant/child but did not receive a booster after 11 years old
        0 (0%)
    • My child has not been vaccinated for other reasons
        5 (38%)
    Total votes: 13
  • Your vote will only count once. This is not a scientific poll. View Results Vote!

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