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Source: http://www.pioneerlocal.com/carygrov...708-s1.article
Source: http://www.pioneerlocal.com/carygrov...708-s1.article
Whooping cough cases found in McHenry Co.
November 27, 2008
By DAVID CONARD dconard@pioneerlocal.com
The McHenry County Department of Health has discovered seven cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in county municipalities since mid-October.
According to Health Department spokeswoman Debra Quackenbush, McHenry County saw two pertussis cases in October, and two more cases earlier this month. A 42-year-old from Algonquin, a 62-year-old from Woodstock, and a 9-year-old and a 10-year-old from Cary were infected, according to Quackenbush.
Quackenbush said there have been three more cases in a week, though she didn't have the identities of the patients by the Countryside's press time.
"Generally we get one a month, but when we get four in a month, that raised a red flag for us," Quackenbush said. "Pertussis is with us all the time -- what is new is the numbers."
Quackenbush said all four patients are now on antibiotics, and they weren't hospitalized.
"We know how quickly this can spiral out of control, so we want to stay ahead of it," Quackenbush said.
Symptoms
Symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, and after about two weeks, severe, rapid coughs.
The Health Department encourages anyone who believes he or she has contracted the disease to contact a doctor.
Minimizing spread
The spread of the disease can be minimized by people covering mouths when they cough or sneeze, and washing their hands often. There is a vaccine available for pertussis, as part of the tetanus and diphtheria vaccine.
"Pertussis vaccination tends to wane 10 years after you get the shot," Quackenbush said.
Quackenbush said a 2004 McHenry County outbreak of pertussis infected 164 people, but no one died.
Source: http://www.pioneerlocal.com/carygrov...708-s1.article
Whooping cough cases found in McHenry Co.
November 27, 2008
By DAVID CONARD dconard@pioneerlocal.com
The McHenry County Department of Health has discovered seven cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in county municipalities since mid-October.
According to Health Department spokeswoman Debra Quackenbush, McHenry County saw two pertussis cases in October, and two more cases earlier this month. A 42-year-old from Algonquin, a 62-year-old from Woodstock, and a 9-year-old and a 10-year-old from Cary were infected, according to Quackenbush.
Quackenbush said there have been three more cases in a week, though she didn't have the identities of the patients by the Countryside's press time.
"Generally we get one a month, but when we get four in a month, that raised a red flag for us," Quackenbush said. "Pertussis is with us all the time -- what is new is the numbers."
Quackenbush said all four patients are now on antibiotics, and they weren't hospitalized.
"We know how quickly this can spiral out of control, so we want to stay ahead of it," Quackenbush said.
Symptoms
Symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, and after about two weeks, severe, rapid coughs.
The Health Department encourages anyone who believes he or she has contracted the disease to contact a doctor.
Minimizing spread
The spread of the disease can be minimized by people covering mouths when they cough or sneeze, and washing their hands often. There is a vaccine available for pertussis, as part of the tetanus and diphtheria vaccine.
"Pertussis vaccination tends to wane 10 years after you get the shot," Quackenbush said.
Quackenbush said a 2004 McHenry County outbreak of pertussis infected 164 people, but no one died.