CDH Alerts About Death from Pertussis

BOISE, March. 3, 2025 – Central District Health announces that a resident of their health district has died from pertussis.

The adult resident passed away from pertussis in February of 2025. While pertussis was listed as the cause of death, there were other health factors that may have contributed.

Central District Health covers Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley counties. The current outbreak of pertussis has been ongoing since January of 2024. There have been 574 cases of pertussis reported in the current outbreak, compared to seven cases in 2023 and two cases in 2022.

CDH recommends community members be cautious to reduce the spread of the disease. Wash your hands, cough into your arm and talk to your physician if you or your family experience a cough, runny nose, congestion or fever.

Pertussis is also known as whooping cough due to the peculiar high-pitched “whoop” sound made when the person inhales at the end of the coughing fit, although this symptom is not always experienced. Other symptoms may include a runny nose, congestion, or fever, but most people recognize it from the long-lasting cough. People may develop rapid, violent, and uncontrollable coughing fits and some may vomit after such fits due to the severity of the cough. The cough can last for months or return months after the illness first started. Pertussis is often more severe in children and those with certain underlying health conditions and can cause difficulty breathing.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to the family of this member of our community,” says Sarah Wright, epidemiology program manager at CDH. “This is a tragic reminder that the pertussis outbreak is still ongoing in our community, and that we still need to take steps to protect those in our community that are at higher risk of severe infection.”

How does pertussis spread?

The illness is caused by a bacterium, Bordetella pertussis, which is spread from person to person through the air after someone who has pertussis coughs or sneezes. If not diagnosed and treated with antibiotics, an individual can spread the disease for up to three weeks after their cough starts.
Individuals who have known exposure to pertussis can also take antibiotics before they get sick to help prevent the illness. If you believe you have pertussis or have been exposed to pertussis, please contact your healthcare provider to discuss testing and treatment.

Is pertussis preventable or treatable?

Pertussis is both preventable and treatable. There is a vaccine which may protect an individual from becoming ill or severely ill.

Immunity to pertussis begins to wane about five years after vaccination, and boosters can offer an individual more protection.

The CDC recommends two different kinds of vaccines based on age: DTaP and Tdap. The DTaP vaccine is intended for individuals two months to seven years old and is a series of five vaccines. Tdap is intended for anyone seven years or older and is usually given every five to 10 years as a booster. Both vaccines protect against pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria.

Pregnant individuals should also talk to their health care provider about getting vaccinated; vaccination during pregnancy can offer immunity for the baby until they are old enough to get vaccinated. If you have questions about your immunization needs, talk with your healthcare provider about your vaccination history to see if you may need a booster vaccination.

CDH offers the Tdap and pediatric DTaP vaccines by appointment at our Boise office.

About Central District Health

CDH, Public Health District IV, is one of seven public health districts within the state of Idaho, serving the counties of Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley. With a vision of Healthy People in Healthy Communities, CDH’s emphasis is on decreasing risk factors for chronic disease, improving quality of life and increasing the years of healthy life among residents.

Contact:

Stephanie Borders, Communications Manager
Office: 208-327-8639 | Cell 208-871-1712
sborders@cdh.idaho.gov | cdh.idaho.gov/news
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