Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/509641.html?nav=5047
Officials working hard to contain whooping cough outbreak
By JOAN JOSEPHSON
POSTED: September 14, 2008
MAYVILLE - Whooping cough warnings have been issued here, in Chautauqua County, since late June.
That was when an outbreak of the disease occurred in Bemus Point Elementary School.
"Initially, it looked like just a few cases, but during the summer months, the disease slowly seemed to smolder and spread," Dr. Robert Berke, Chautauqua County Interim Commissioner of Health Services, said.
Now, he said, there are 43 confirmed cases in Chautauqua County.
"We have informed all the school districts in the county and neighboring Cattaraugus and Erie County Health Departments about this outbreak because the possibility of the disease spreading wider afield exists," Dr. Berke said.
He said he expects to see more whooping cough cases develop before the contagious disease is brought under control.
"We are working on it," he said.
Before the start of school this year, these controls involved sending letters home or using the schools' telephone broadcast system to inform parents about the disease and what preventative steps need to be taken.
This includes ensuring their children have had the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine before entering school.
This vaccine, identified as DPT or DTaP, should have been given to a child between the ages of 4 and 6 years old.
Because both children and adults are susceptible to the disease, health officials say everyone between the ages of 10 and 64 should receive a Tdap vaccination.
If a parent or a child develops a cough, they should stay home and be seen by a physician as soon as possible, these officials say.
According to the NY Department of Health, whooping cough is generally spread by direct contact with discharges from the nose and throat of an infected individual.
Initially, whooping cough begins as a mild upper respiratory infection that resembles a common cold accompanied by a cough.
Within two weeks, the cough becomes more severe and is characterized by a series of coughs followed by a high pitched whoop.
Dr. Berke said whooping cough germs are tough to grow.
"It's not like strep that can be grown in culture and provides results immediately," he said.
If whooping cough is diagnosed, activities should be restricted until the physician indicates public contact is safe.
Dr. Berke said whooping cough is generally treated with antibiotics.
"It's a tough germ and it's hard to determine if a cough, is in fact, caused by whooping cough.
"The best bet is to get to your primary care physician, if you or your child develops a cough. Infants are particularly vulnerable to this disease," he said.
Complications associated with the disease include pneumonia, dehydration, seizures, brain disorders, a brief cessation of breathing and possibly death.
Because of the whooping cough outbreak in Chautauqua County, the area's high school athletic directors have been advised by Section VI officials to suspend all hand shaking before and after games.
They are also told to have hand cleaner available at all sports contests.
Section IV encompasses Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara and Olean counties.
Brocton Central's athletic director Ken Kowal said he thinks the Section VI advice is good.
"Right now we are fielding football, soccer and girls' volleyball teams and I think it's important to follow the Section VI advice, if it will help prevent the spread of the disease," he said.
Officials working hard to contain whooping cough outbreak
By JOAN JOSEPHSON
POSTED: September 14, 2008
MAYVILLE - Whooping cough warnings have been issued here, in Chautauqua County, since late June.
That was when an outbreak of the disease occurred in Bemus Point Elementary School.
"Initially, it looked like just a few cases, but during the summer months, the disease slowly seemed to smolder and spread," Dr. Robert Berke, Chautauqua County Interim Commissioner of Health Services, said.
Now, he said, there are 43 confirmed cases in Chautauqua County.
"We have informed all the school districts in the county and neighboring Cattaraugus and Erie County Health Departments about this outbreak because the possibility of the disease spreading wider afield exists," Dr. Berke said.
He said he expects to see more whooping cough cases develop before the contagious disease is brought under control.
"We are working on it," he said.
Before the start of school this year, these controls involved sending letters home or using the schools' telephone broadcast system to inform parents about the disease and what preventative steps need to be taken.
This includes ensuring their children have had the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine before entering school.
This vaccine, identified as DPT or DTaP, should have been given to a child between the ages of 4 and 6 years old.
Because both children and adults are susceptible to the disease, health officials say everyone between the ages of 10 and 64 should receive a Tdap vaccination.
If a parent or a child develops a cough, they should stay home and be seen by a physician as soon as possible, these officials say.
According to the NY Department of Health, whooping cough is generally spread by direct contact with discharges from the nose and throat of an infected individual.
Initially, whooping cough begins as a mild upper respiratory infection that resembles a common cold accompanied by a cough.
Within two weeks, the cough becomes more severe and is characterized by a series of coughs followed by a high pitched whoop.
Dr. Berke said whooping cough germs are tough to grow.
"It's not like strep that can be grown in culture and provides results immediately," he said.
If whooping cough is diagnosed, activities should be restricted until the physician indicates public contact is safe.
Dr. Berke said whooping cough is generally treated with antibiotics.
"It's a tough germ and it's hard to determine if a cough, is in fact, caused by whooping cough.
"The best bet is to get to your primary care physician, if you or your child develops a cough. Infants are particularly vulnerable to this disease," he said.
Complications associated with the disease include pneumonia, dehydration, seizures, brain disorders, a brief cessation of breathing and possibly death.
Because of the whooping cough outbreak in Chautauqua County, the area's high school athletic directors have been advised by Section VI officials to suspend all hand shaking before and after games.
They are also told to have hand cleaner available at all sports contests.
Section IV encompasses Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara and Olean counties.
Brocton Central's athletic director Ken Kowal said he thinks the Section VI advice is good.
"Right now we are fielding football, soccer and girls' volleyball teams and I think it's important to follow the Section VI advice, if it will help prevent the spread of the disease," he said.