Pertussis is a highly contagious, respiratory illness caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. People of any age can get pertussis, however children who are too young to be fully vaccinated and those who have not received all vaccinations are at highest risk for severe illness and death.

Though pertussis vaccination (DTaP or Tdap) is available and widely implemented, B. pertussis continues to spread in the United States due to lack of vaccination or timely boosters, the lack of lifelong immunity from vaccination or natural infection, and the long duration of infectiousness in untreated cases.

Symptoms of pertussis usually begin with a runny or congested nose, a low-grade fever, and mild coughing; apnea/stopping breathing can also occur in infants. After 1-2 weeks, the cough can progress to rapid, violent (paroxysmal) coughing fits that can cause the “whooping” sound, vomiting, and labored breathing. Most teens and adults will have mild symptoms; young children are the most severely affected.

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Health Alert

Cases of pertussis have continued to increase steadily in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, with numbers elevated to a rate not seen since 2016-2017. As a result, the Kentucky Department of Public Health issued a Health Alert on July 17, 2024.

A complete copy of the Alert can be read here.

Additionally,  new parent and prenatal provider toolkits are now available to support immunization outreach efforts for pregnant Kentuckians. Pertussis can be life-threatening in young infants. Prenatal Tdap and prompt initiation of DTaP vaccines starting at 2 months of age are the best prevention against severe pertussis.

Additional pertussis resources can be found on the KDPH website. 

Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease. It can be result in a mild illness that lasts several weeks (acute hepatitis B) or a serious, lifelong illness (chronic hepatitis B). It is preventable through a vaccine.

Learn more about hepatitis B.

In 2015, there were 22 cases of acute hepatitis B in Northern Kentucky, a rate of 5.37 per 100,000 population. In comparison, the state case rate is 3.7 per 100,000 and the national rate is 1.1 per 100,000 (state and national rates are based on preliminary numbers). Local cases of hepatitis B doubled from 2006 to 2013, and 50% of those with hepatitis B who were contacted by the Health Department admitted to IV drug use as a risk factor for the infection.

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. It can be described as “acute,” meaning a new infection, or “chronic,” meaning lifelong infection.

HCV is spread by contact with infected blood. Today, most people become infected with HCV by sharing needles or other equipment to prepare or inject drugs. People born from 1945–1965, sometimes referred to as “baby boomers,” are also at risk.

Many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms do occur, they could include fatigue, fever, nausea, decreased appetite, muscle or joint pain, dark urine, grey-colored stool, and yellow skin and eyes.

Hepatitis C can cause serious liver damage, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is the number one reason for liver transplants in the United States. Liver damage from hepatitis C can be prevented by early diagnosis and timely access to care and treatment. Unlike hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C; however, hepatitis C can be cured and treated!

Testing and treatment for hepatitis C

NKY Health has a new program that provides free testing, as well as referrals for those who need treatment. For a free hepatitis C test, call to make an appointment at your county health center.

Schedule your hepatitis C test online*

To schedule an appointment at the Boone County Health Center, please request an appointment here.

To schedule an appointment at the Kenton County Health Center, please request an appointment here.

To schedule an appointment at the Campbell County Health Center, please request an appointment here.

*Testing appointments are available on Mondays between the hours of 8 am and 12 pm only.

If you learn that you are infected with hepatitis C, it is important that you receive proper medical care. A health care provider can monitor your liver disease. They can also give you advice on how to take care of your liver and information on hepatitis C treatments. Hepatitis C is curable in many cases. Medications currently available for the treatment of hepatitis C are more successful, have fewer side effects and the length of treatment is shorter (8-12 weeks).

For more information, please email nkywebmaster@nkyhealth.org.

Additional Resources

Linkage to Care – Hepatitis C Patient Resource Guide

Provider Resource for Hepatitis C Education Guide

For more information on hepatitis C, visit https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/

Benefind allows Kentucky’s families to easily access public assistance benefits and information 24/7 through an online application and account. For more information, visit: https://benefind.ky.gov/

For information on signing up for health insurance, visit the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange at https://kyhbe.ky.gov/general/agentorassister

For local help, including one-on-one meetings, to sign up for medical benefits, contact the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission (NKCAC). The website is https://www.nkcac.org/

For resources on substance use treatment, visit findhelpnowky.org, or call the NKY Addiction Helpline at 859-415-9280.

Tuberculosis, or TB, is an illness caused by bacteria. It usually infects the lungs. If not treated properly, TB can be fatal.

Learn more about TB.

Testing

TB skin tests are available by appointment at the county health centers. Please call the center most convenient for you to schedule an appointment.

Please note that the Health Department’s fees for TB testing may be higher than other providers. If you are required to have the test for job or volunteer position, please check that the agency that you will be volunteering or working with doesn’t offer TB skin tests for free or at a reduced rate.

Testing can also be done through St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s business health office at 859-301-2999 or at retail health clinics inside local grocery stores and pharmacies.

Reporting a case

Active or symptomatic TB disease is reportable in Kentucky.   To report a case, please call 859-363-2120. Healthcare providers, please fax 859-363-2057.

Services for those with TB

Health Department staff provide the following services to individuals with TB who live in or are visiting Northern Kentucky:

• Case management
• Case investigation
• Treatment
• Medication assistance

For more information, please call the TB Help Line at 859-363-2120.

Flu, COVID, and respiratory infections tend to ramp up in the Fall and Winter. The best advice to prevent all three illnesses is to avoid others who are sick, stay away from others if you are sick, and get vaccinated, if you are eligible. Washing hands, avoiding places with large crowds, cleaning and sanitizing commonly touched services, keeping hands away from your mouth and face, and sneezing and coughing into a tissue and throwing it away immediately are also effective in preventing illness.

For information on respiratory illness, data, and isolation guidelines, visit the Kentucky Department of Public Health’s Respitatory Viruses Page.

Flu

Each Fall, the flu impacts more than 27 million people, according to the CDC, with up to 650,000 people hospitalized as a result.

Receiving an annual flu vaccine is a key preventative tool to fighting the illness, and is especially important for people who are at higher risk of developing complications, such as children under 5 years old, those with a respiratory condition, heart disease, or a weakened immune system.

If you test positive for the flu: Stay home and reduce contact with others to avoid spreading the virus, rest, drink plenty of liquids, and practice good hygiene. Wearing masks is a good practice as a means of protecting others.

For more information on the flu and flu vaccines, visit our Covid, Cold & Flu page.

If you are in need of a flu vaccine, contact your primary care physician or local pharmacy. At our four county health centers, NKY Health offers flu vaccines through the vaccines for children program and in limited amounts for adults who are uninsured or have Medicaid.

COVID

While COVID is no longer a national health emergency, the virus is not going away and should be considered part of our everyday lives, much like the flu.

Also like the flu, COVID remains a virus that can cause severe health risks, particularly among the elderly, people who are immunocompromised, or those with respiratory illnesses.

It is recommended that each person consult with his/her primary care physician to determine risk levels and an appropriate course of preventative care. Vaccines are highly recommended. Good judgment should be exercised during travel and as the weather forces activities to move indoors.

Tests can be purchased at local pharmacies to determine if an individual has COVID. If a test is positive, treatment should be approached much like the flu: Stay home and reduce contact with others to avoid spreading the virus, rest, drink plenty of liquids, and practice good hygiene. Wearing masks is not required, but is still a good practice as a means of protecting others.

Contact your primary care physician or local pharmacy to purchase a COVID vaccine. Our four county health centers are only offering the vaccines for children and in limited amounts for adults who are uninsured or have Medicaid.

Those who are disabled may be able to receive a vaccination at home. Contact DIAL (Disability Information and Access Line) at 888-677-1199 to determine eligibility and schedule an appointment.

Respiratory Infections

In addition to the flu and now COVID, other respiratory infections are common starting each Fall, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Vaccines will be available soon for infants and for adults over the age of 60. Contact your primary care physician or local pharmacy.