Tweet
Source: http://www.triplicate.com/2010021210...ases-confirmed
Whooping cough cases confirmed
Written by Nick Grube, The Triplicate February 12, 2010 09:34 am
Dept. of Public Health warns of outbreak in Del Norte County
Del Norte County is currently experiencing an outbreak of pertussis, or whooping cough, according to information released by the local Department of Public Health on Thursday.
The first case was reported Monday, and since then three more people have been confirmed as having contracted the potentially fatal bacterial respiratory illness.
Of the four confirmed pertussis cases, three are associated with children aged 3 months, 5 months and 3 years old. The fourth case was reported in a 30-year-old woman who is the mother of one of the sick children.
Cases were not isolated to one particular community and were detected in both Smith River and Crescent City.
?The biggest concern is this is highly contagious,? said Dr. Thomas Martinelli, Del Norte County?s public health officer. ?It?s most serious in infants, in particular with infants below the age of two months.?
Babies, especially those under two months old who have not been vaccinated, are the most susceptible to whooping cough. It can cause them to cough so much they cannot breathe, and an infection of pertussis may also lead to pneumonia.
While less severe in teens and adults, bouts of coughing can still lead to vomiting and broken ribs. One of the biggest concerns is that they can spread the illness to children.
Initial symptoms of pertussis are similar to those of the common cold ? runny nose, congestion, and a mild cough. But as the disease progresses over the next couple weeks severe coughing fits take hold.
?This can easily be spread,? Martinelli said, because the bacteria is passed person-to-person through tiny respiratory droplets released from coughs and sneezes.
Medical clinics in Del Norte County have already been notified about the whooping cough outbreak, and Martinelli said anyone experiencing symptoms should see their doctor to determine if antibiotics are needed.
He said most school-aged children have probably received the DTaP vaccine, which is typically given at two, four and six months old, and again between 15 and 18 months. The shot is also usually given before a child enters school.
There are also booster shots, called Tdap, that protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. These are recommended for pre-teens and adults to further guard against whooping cough.
In 2007, 10,454 cases of pertussis were reported nationally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 10 children died that year as a result. The most recent U.S. epidemic of whooping cough occurred in 2005 when 25,616 cases were reported.
Whooping cough cases confirmed
Written by Nick Grube, The Triplicate February 12, 2010 09:34 am
Dept. of Public Health warns of outbreak in Del Norte County
Del Norte County is currently experiencing an outbreak of pertussis, or whooping cough, according to information released by the local Department of Public Health on Thursday.
The first case was reported Monday, and since then three more people have been confirmed as having contracted the potentially fatal bacterial respiratory illness.
Of the four confirmed pertussis cases, three are associated with children aged 3 months, 5 months and 3 years old. The fourth case was reported in a 30-year-old woman who is the mother of one of the sick children.
Cases were not isolated to one particular community and were detected in both Smith River and Crescent City.
?The biggest concern is this is highly contagious,? said Dr. Thomas Martinelli, Del Norte County?s public health officer. ?It?s most serious in infants, in particular with infants below the age of two months.?
Babies, especially those under two months old who have not been vaccinated, are the most susceptible to whooping cough. It can cause them to cough so much they cannot breathe, and an infection of pertussis may also lead to pneumonia.
While less severe in teens and adults, bouts of coughing can still lead to vomiting and broken ribs. One of the biggest concerns is that they can spread the illness to children.
Initial symptoms of pertussis are similar to those of the common cold ? runny nose, congestion, and a mild cough. But as the disease progresses over the next couple weeks severe coughing fits take hold.
?This can easily be spread,? Martinelli said, because the bacteria is passed person-to-person through tiny respiratory droplets released from coughs and sneezes.
Medical clinics in Del Norte County have already been notified about the whooping cough outbreak, and Martinelli said anyone experiencing symptoms should see their doctor to determine if antibiotics are needed.
He said most school-aged children have probably received the DTaP vaccine, which is typically given at two, four and six months old, and again between 15 and 18 months. The shot is also usually given before a child enters school.
There are also booster shots, called Tdap, that protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. These are recommended for pre-teens and adults to further guard against whooping cough.
In 2007, 10,454 cases of pertussis were reported nationally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 10 children died that year as a result. The most recent U.S. epidemic of whooping cough occurred in 2005 when 25,616 cases were reported.
Comment