(KLZA)-- The Southeast District Health Department routinely tracks illness and disease in the district and has observed an unusually high amount of pertussis activity in the region. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a very contagious, bacterial respiratory disease.  The health department is encouraging people of all ages to be immunized against this highly contagious but preventable respiratory disease.

Although it might be a mild disease in older children and adults, in younger children and infants it can result in hospitalization due to complications including severe respiratory distress and inflammation of the brain. In rare cases, pertussis can cause death, especially in children less than one year of age.

The Southeast District Health Department is advising people in the area to receive the vaccine as it is the most effective way to prevent the illness. Children and adults who are partially protected by the vaccine can have a milder illness than infants and very young children, however, they can still transmit the disease to others, including infants too young to be immunized. Individuals should contact their health care provider or local health department to determine what vaccines they should receive.

Call the Southeast District Health Department at 877-777-0424 or online visit dhhs.ne.gov/nesiis to review your personal immunization records and recommended vaccines. Un-insured and under-insured adults and children may be eligible for free immunizations through Southeast District Health Department’s Immunization Clinics, call for eligibility or find clinic dates and locations and more information at www.sedhd.org.

T-dap vaccination is especially important for the following groups:

 women who are pregnant or may become pregnant.