SD: Whooping cough outbreak

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.keloland.com/healthbeat/n...cfm?Id=0,76006

11/05/2008
Whooping Cough Outbreak

A very contagious disease is making its way through eastern South Dakota. Health officials report 17 confirmed cases of whooping cough.

It began with students at Madison Elementary school in Huron. As of Wednesday the state's disease prevention department reports 10 cases of whooping cough in Huron and 7 cases in Lake Preston.

The respiratory tract disease is caused by bacteria found in an infected person's mouth, nose, and throat.
The initial symptoms resemble a common cold---a runny nose, a mild cough, sneezing, and a low-grade fever.

But within a few weeks, the cough becomes more severe and is characterized by a crowing or high-pitched whoops. Rapid coughing is often followed by vomiting, and a clear, thick mucus may also develop. This could last for one to two months.

While antibiotics can shorten the contagious period, a vaccine is available. It can protect against the bacteria, but the shots series required by the state is only 80 85-percent effective, so people sometimes get milder cases of the illness.

These cases were age-appropriately immunized. But young children are not fully immunized until they are between 4 and 6 years old. Because immunity decreases over time, a booster dose is recommended for teens and adults. Health officials advise those who have or may have whooping cough to stay away from young children and infants until properly treated.

[Shiloh]

Re: SD: Whooping cough outbreak

Source: http://www.brookingsregister.com/V2_...&story_id=3392


A highly contagious and potentially deadly disease is currently moving through Eastern South Dakota, and it's already hitting area schools.

The South Dakota Department of Health reports 17 recently confirmed cases of whooping cough, or pertussis , in the area.

It appears that the disease started at Madison Elementary School in Huron, and as of Wednesday, 10 of these cases were tracked to Huron. Seven other cases have been confirmed in Lake Preston.

But it doesn't stop there, according to Lake Preston School Superintendent Tim Casper.

Though only seven of the cases are confirmed, Lake Preston, a school of 217 students in grades K-12 , is facing what appears to be an epidemic. As of Thursday, 21 students were absent from school as well as three staff members, per physician recommendations.

The state Department of Health is recommending parents make sure their children are properly immunized .

"From what I have heard, this is (going on) or has gone on in other schools in the past," Casper added. "I guess maybe it's our turn, or somehow we got it from somebody. There isn't a lot of panic. We are doing the best we can to deal with the issue, to keep it contained and keep things calm." Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a very contagious disease of the respiratory tract. It is caused by bacteria found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person. It can cause pneumonia, encephalopathy (brain disorders) and even death for children or the elderly. It is most severe in babies under 6 months old.

The illness begins as a mild upper respiratory infection, according to a fact sheet on the Department of Health's Web site. Symptoms initially resemble a common cold, including sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough. Within two weeks, the cough becomes more severe and is characterized by episodes of numerous and rapid coughs often followed by vomiting and "crowing" or high-pitched whoops, which is where the disease gets its name. A thick, clear mucus may be discharged.

Episodes may recur for one to two months and are more frequent at night. The symptoms gradually fade. The disease can occur at any age the Huron cases included adolescents and one adult and is spread by close contact with discharge spread during an infected person's coughing or sneezing. Extended 'catchy' period

A person can transmit pertussis from seven days following exposure to three weeks after coughing episodes begin.

According to Dr. Richard "Rick" Holm, a Brookings physician, 27 cases of pertussis were reported in the past month. Seventy percent of the recent cases are in children. The cases are in Beadle, Meade, Pennington, Kingsbury, Brookings, Campbell, Hanson and Minnehaha counties.

"It's a disease that's always with us," he added. "But it runs in bunches. In 2004-05 , there were more than 100 cases per year. We think it's related to the fact that there are periodically adult carriers who are running through our communities."

According to Holm, there are islands of local people who don't get their vaccines. This is often because they don't believe in them, or fear the side effects. These people become carriers of disease and expose others who have taken the proper precautions.

Another reason for the outbreak, according to Holm, is that immune system charges after initially contracting the illness last only five to 10 years, and vaccination effectiveness wanes after five to 10 years. So unlike the chicken pox, pertussis isn't a one-time deal.

"That's what happened to Lake Preston," Holm added. "After children pass the age of 15, if they haven't needed a tetanus shot, their immunization wanes. They need to stay vaccinated ." Lake Preston school officials held a staff meeting Monday when a larger number of students missed classes. Staff discussed different scenarios and how to deal with phone calls and parent questions. According to Casper, parents are being referred to their family physicians for details on the disease and how to prevent exposure.

"We are not a clinic; we are not a doctor; we are a school," the superintendent added. "We are working with physicians and parents as best as we can to get their questions answered and caution them to get tested or checked if there are signs of pertussis." Immunization helps

Though all seven of the Lake Preston cases were age-appropriately immunized, the state Department of Health reports that Holm is correct, and that maintaining high immunization levels will prevent the spread of pertussis.

Casper says the illness may have been in the community for some time now, possibly since the beginning of summer. Arlington and Brookings schools are currently reporting no trouble with pertussis, and officials say they are waiting to hear from the state before taking any preventative measures. The Lake Preston superintendent said he's been in touch with other area school administrators who, like him, are "taking things on student-by-student , day-by-day basis."

And as far as what to do about De Smet and Arlington students being exposed (as Lake Preston, Arlington and De Smet make up a co-op wrestling team), Casper will be checking the calendar to see where the situation is at that point, and following physician recommendations.

Steps are also being taken to prevent the spread of exposure within Lake Preston Schools, including using sprays, wiping down door handles and rails with antibacterial cloth and installing hand sanitizers in the lunch line. Letters including information about pertussis have also been sent home with every student.

"As far as this school and or community goes," Casper added, "we want to try and stop the spreading and make sure everyone is as safe as possible." 'A miserable illness'

"It's a miserable illness, a bacteria," said Holm. "People who catch it need to isolate themselves for five days after they start taking the antibiotics. If you come to a clinic, you need to put a mask on. If you get a cough, do not go to school, the movies or church. Cover coughs with a tissue or your elbow. Do not expose other people."

Residents can learn more about pertussis by visiting the South Dakota Department of Health Web site, http:// doh.sd.gov/.