Confirmed Whooping Cough Case Prompts Health Alert in Pasadena

Pasadena health officials have issued a warning after confirming a case of whooping cough (pertussis) in a resident who visited Kidspace Children's Museum on April 25 between 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Visitors to the museum during that period are advised to monitor themselves and their families for symptoms—such as sneezing, runny nose, mild cough, and low-grade fever—for up to 21 days after exposure, as the illness is highly contagious and symptoms may appear 5 to 21 days post-exposure. Severe cases, especially in infants, can include gasping, vomiting, trouble breathing, or life-threatening pauses in breathing, and infants may not always develop a cough. Those who become sick should stay home until a doctor clears them or after five days of antibiotics, and high-risk individuals like infants, pregnant women, and their caregivers may need preventive antibiotics even without symptoms. The Pasadena Public Health Department urges all residents to ensure vaccinations are up to date, as the DTaP and Tdap shots are effective prevention methods. Vaccines are available through the health department by appointment or during specified walk-in hours.