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Possible whooping cough exposure at Tacoma hospital

Symptoms of whooping cough include runny nose, fever, vomiting, and rapid coughing
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Close Up Of Woman Suffering With Cough

Editor’s note: The video above was originally published in August 2016.

Officials at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Tacoma said there may have been an exposure to whooping cough at the hospital.

A spokesperson for St. Joseph’s Medical Center said the risk of exposure at the hospital is “extremely minimal.”

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is highly contagious and is spread through close contact such as coughing or sneezing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, people cannot pass on whooping cough unless they become sick themselves.

RELATED: WWU identifies 6 cases of whooping cough

“The health and safety of our patients and staff is our highest priority,” the hospital said in a statement. “Because pertussis is very infectious, and the pertussis vaccine is not 100% effective, we took immediate action to notify the health department, patients, and staff who may be impacted.”

Symptoms include runny nose, fever, vomiting, and rapid coughing. The hospital asks anyone who believes they are experiencing symptoms to contact their physician.

Pertussis can be prevented with the DTaP vaccine for babies and young children and the Tdap vaccine for older children and adults. People are also advised to wash their hands frequently and keep babies away from people who are sick.

As of May 4, there have been 161 cases of whooping cough in Washington state this year, according to the state Department of Health. Of those cases, 12 have been in Whatcom County.

Last year Washington state had 517 cases of whooping cough, according to the CDC.

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