Current Community Concerns

Measles 

After a few days, a rash begins, which usually starts on the face and can spread over the entire body.
In some people, especially people who are have chronic medical problems, are pregnant, or are malnourished, measles also leads to serious problems such as pneumonia, brain damage, blindness, deafness, and death. 

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
  • Symptoms
    • Make a high-pitched “whoop” sound when they are finally able to inhale at the end of a coughing fit
    • Vomit during or after coughing fits
    • Feel very tired after the fit, but usually seem well in-between coughing fits
    • Struggle to breathe
Whooping cough symptoms usually develop within 5 to 10 days after a person comes into contact with the bacteria that causes it. Sometimes symptoms do not develop for as long as 3 weeks. Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:
    • Runny or stuffed-up nose
    • Low-grade fever (less than 100.4°F)
    • Mild, occasional cough (NOTE: Generally, infants or babies do not develop a cough)
    • Apnea (life-threatening pauses in breathing) and cyanosis (turning blue or purple) in babies and young children
In its early stages, whooping cough appears to be nothing more than the common cold. 

Later, symptoms that may begin one to 2 weeks after the first symptoms start, people with whooping cough may develop rapid, violent, and uncontrolled coughing fits called paroxysms. These coughing fits usually last 1 to 6 weeks but can last for up to 10 weeks. The coughing fits generally get worse and become more common as the illness continues. 

If you or your child are:
    • Struggling to breath
    • Turning blue or purple
    • Coughing violently
    • Coughing rapidly, over and over
    • Not drinking enough fluids
Any time someone is struggling to breathe, it is important to get them to a doctor right away, go to a hospital Emergency Room or call 9-1-1.
 
COVID-19 (SARs2-CoV-2 novel coronavirus)


Domestic & Wild Animal Illness

It is possible but unusual for a sickness or virus that an animal may have to transfer to a human. The Okanogan Public Health District (OCPHD) works with area residents and medical professionals to address communicable diseases in humans but does not have a role in addressing possible animal illness or dead animals. OCPHD becomes a team partner to help connect medical care, arrange services and take measures to help prevent a disease from spreading if
  1) a person has had direct contact with a sick animal, or
  2) a lab test has confirmed the person is sick with the same illness as the animal they encountered.

Here are a few quick reference links to help direct you to helpful resources about issues with dead or sick animals:


QUICK LINKS to information about: