A pertussis outbreak in the Black Hills has caused Regional Health to implement visitation guidelines. Pertussis is commonly known as Whooping Cough. Health facilities across the area are limiting visiting hours, requiring masks, and restricting access for children under the age of 12. State Epidemiologist Dr. Lon Kightlinger says the best way to stop this outbreak is to stay vaccinated.
“Check your vaccination records. This just reminds us all again that we should be getting our vaccination up to date. We’ve had several of the kids who get Whooping Cough in this year already have not been vaccinated at all. So again that’s very serious. The best way to prevent it is way ahead of time by getting vaccinated,” says Kightlinger.
Kightlinger says there have been 29 cases of Whooping Cough this year in South Dakota. He says this is far above average. Kightlinger says the Department of Health has set up some vaccination clinics in Rapid City and Spearfish this week. The goal is to increase the public vaccination rate.
The clinics will be offered in Rapid City on Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Pennington County Community Health Office Located at 909 E. St. Patrick St., and in Spearfish on Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Spearfish Middle School Commons.