Someone who recently spent time at Grant High School in northeast Portland has been diagnosed with whooping cough, and Multnomah County public health officials are sounding the alarm to families.
In a notice sent to households Monday night, the county urged families to watch closely for symptoms and to follow public health guidance to protect infants and others at higher risk of serious illness.
Multnomah County Health confirmed that the alert went out to Grant families Monday, according to KATU. The station reported that the letter was accompanied by data, including an Oregon Health Authority chart that tracks pertussis cases through the first 17 weeks of 2026 compared with the same stretch in recent years.
Statewide Numbers and a Push for Vaccination in Pregnancy
The Oregon Health Authority says Oregon has seen unusually high activity from pertussis in recent years and warned that 2025 marked a record year for the disease. State officials are using this latest case as another reminder that vaccination remains the first line of defense.
The agency stresses that getting a Tdap shot during each pregnancy, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks, and keeping children current on their routine shots are the best tools to shield newborns and the broader community, according to Oregon Health Authority.
How Whooping Cough Shows Up and Who Is Most at Risk
Whooping cough often rolls in looking like a basic cold before it turns ugly. It can progress to paroxysms, those rapid, violent coughing fits that typically last one to six weeks and sometimes drag on even longer in more severe cases.
Infants are most vulnerable to serious complications and hospitalization from pertussis, and early testing plus antibiotics can help limit how far the illness spreads, according to the CDC.
What Families and Schools Are Being Asked to Do
Officials are telling parents that if a child develops a worsening cough or cold-like symptoms, the next stop should be the doctor, not the classroom. Health care providers can decide whether testing or antibiotics are needed and advise how long a sick student should stay home.
Multnomah County and the Oregon Health Authority both recommend Tdap vaccination during pregnancy and staying up to date on childhood immunizations. They also note that antibiotics can shorten how long someone with pertussis remains contagious, according to Oregon Health Authority.
County health officials say the Grant High alert is meant to put the school community on notice, prod families to double-check vaccine records, and encourage them to seek medical care if symptoms show up. Their message is straightforward: vaccination and early treatment are still the strongest tools to protect babies and others who are most at risk.
