Respiratory illness cases exceed last year’s numbers; how to protect your family

MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Parents are concerned about the rise and spread of respiratory illness.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 5, currently, Montgomery County is beyond the number of whooping cough cases that were reported last year.

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“This is very concerning then they come home and spread the germs,” Danita Jones, said

Jones said she has very young great-grandchildren she takes care of at times.

Jones is elderly so she’s scared about contracting symptoms or possibly spreading an illness to the grandchildren.

“Being a senior citizen in the home, it goes both ways. For the seniors and the kids it’s very hard to get rid of,” she said.

Earlier this year News Center 7 reported that Ohio led the nation in whooping cough cases.

Becky Thomas, medical director for Public Health Dayton, spoke about why the numbers are so high and for who.

“Over a third of the cases are actually in teenagers, a 13 to 17-year-old group, that’s because you need to get a booster done,” Thomas said.

She said that the dose should be administered when children reach seventh grade.

“Our rates of vaccinations have decreased since the COVID pandemic, so we’d really like to see more people staying on top of getting their vaccinations,” Thomas said.

Thomas told me illnesses like whooping cough and walking pneumonia are typically airborne but they can spread through surfaces.

“If I have a cough or sneezing real bad, I’m going to wear my mask,” Jones said.

Even when properly treated, respiratory infections can be infections for up to five days.

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