Alabama: Whooping cough cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/06/whooping_cough_cases_are_up_in.html


Whooping cough cases are up in Alabama, worst in Walker County
Posted by Dave Parks -- Birmingham News June 22, 2009 3:30 PM
Categories: Breaking News

Twenty-one cases of pertussis, a highly infectious disease commonly known as whooping cough, have been reported so far this year in Walker County, with the worst outbreak in the Carbon Hill area, authorities said Monday.

Authorities warned that even though these cases were reported in Walker County, the entire state was experiencing an increase in the disease, which is potentially fatal to infants.

In 2008, 92 cases of whooping cough were reported statewide; so far this year, 148 cases have been reported in Alabama.

The disease is so infectious that studies have shown undervaccinated or unvaccinated children will contract it 90 percent of the time if they live with an infected person. Any infant who has a persistent cough for seven or more days should be seen by a pediatrician, authorities said.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Alabama: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=11555295

Whooping cough case confirmed in AL
Posted: Nov 22, 2009 10:57 PM EST Updated: Nov 23, 2009 10:56 AM EST

Posted by Hannah Lane
SPANISH FORT, AL (WSFA) - Health officials have confirmed a case of whooping cough at Spanish Fort High School.

Whooping cough is highly contagious, but is treatable with antibiotics.

Parents are being urged to keep children with symptoms out of class.

The symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, minimal or no fever, and a dry cough that gets gradually worse.

The cough is followed by a whooping noise as the person tries to breathe.

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Alabama: Whooping cough cases

Alabama sixth graders must get whooping cough vaccination

By Jim Cook
Published: July 13, 2010

Students entering the sixth grade will need to get a Tdap booster vaccination before they can go to school.

The Alabama Health Department wants to remind the public that a new regulation makes the shot mandatory for students entering the sixth grade.

The Tdap vaccine provides immunization against tetnaus, diphtheria and pertussis. Pertussis, or whooping cough, has become a big concern for public health officials because of an increase in cases.

According to the Mayo Clinic, pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In advanced cases, the illness is identifiable by a severe, hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath sounding like a ?whoop.?

In the early 20th century, before the development of a vaccine, whooping cough was a major killer of children.

Eileen Rogers, an Alabama Department of Public Health spokesperson, said there?s currently a big outbreak of whooping cough in California, and cases in Alabama have quadrupled in recent years.

?We?re concerned that the adolescents will take it home to infants and make them sick,? Rogers said. ?...Most who die from protussis are infants?tiny babies.?

Rogers said parents should take their children to their primary care physician or to the health department to get vaccinated before school starts in August. For low-income parents, payments or deferment can be worked out with the health department.

Allyson Morgan, Dothan City Schools secondary curriculum director, said the city schools had a shot clinic last year to help students get the necessary shots.

Morgan said the school system would work with the families of any students who arrive for school without the necessary shots to get the Tdap vaccination.

?That?s why those parental involvement specialists are so important,? she said.
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Alabama whooping cough (pertussis) cases
2000 - 20
2001 - 37
2002 - 37
2003 - 19
2004 - 49
2005 - 82
2006 - 96
2007 - 86
2008 - 68
2009 - 315
2010 -As of June 2010 there are 93 reported cases

http://www2.dothaneagle.com/dea/new...s_must_get_whooping_cough_vaccination/166605/

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Alabama: Whooping cough cases

NEWS RELEASE​

ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

ADPH announces immunization requirements

The state rules governing immunization have changed to better protect Alabama’s young
children and adolescents. Recent amendments affect preschoolers and students entering sixth
grade.​

Effective immediately the rules require pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) for attendees
of congregated care centers such as child care and home daycare centers.

Effective for the upcoming 2010-2011 school year, the rules will require all students entering
sixth grade to have a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination if they are 11

years of age or older.​

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization

Practices recommends that PCV be administered to all children ages 2 to 59 months. The
vaccine should routinely be given at ages 2, 4, 6 months, and 12 through 15 months of age.​

This vaccine also may be given to children 60 to 71 months of age in certain high-risk groups.​

PCV helps prevent invasive disease caused by certain types of the bacterium called

Streptococcus pneumoniae. These diseases include bloodstream infections and meningitis.
In addition, each student 11 or older who enters the sixth grade will be required to have a new
certificate of immunization. This is because of the change from tetanus-diphtheria (Td) to
tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine.​

The Tdap vaccine will protect adolescents from pertussis and keep them from spreading

disease to siblings, other family members and other students. The Tdap school requirement will
go up by one higher grade each school year. For example, Tdap will be required for students
entering seventh grade in 2011-2012, eighth grade in 2012-2013, up through twelfth grade in
2016-2017.​

“Pertussis cases have increased in Alabama, and one of the age groups with the highest rates

nationally is the adolescent group,” said Winkler Sims, director of the Immunization Division of
the Alabama Department of Public Health. “Having the requirement for the sixth grade will allow
schools to more easily track expiration dates on certificates and so help identify who needs to
be vaccinated.”​

More information is available by calling 1-800-469-4599 toll free and at​

www.adph.org/immunization/.​

http://adph.org/news/assets/100408.pdf​

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