As whooping cough tails off, other infectious diseases spike

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The whooping cough outbreak of 2012 may be starting to wane, said Linda Van Etta, infectious disease specialist at St. Luke’s hospital in Duluth. But a couple of other infectious diseases could be taking its place.

The number of influenza cases spiked in Minnesota for the second straight week, and is considered widespread. “It is now very rapidly increasing in the Northland,” Van Etta said.

Minnesota, like other states, also is seeing numerous norovirus cases, Van Etta added. That disease is characterized by a sudden onset of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and typically lasts about 24 hours. “I was just talking to someone who had every member of his family and all the relatives who were visiting … had it over the Christmas weekend,” she said.

The best way to prevent norovirus is by frequent and thorough hand-washing, Van Etta said. Hand sanitizers aren’t effective against norovirus.

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