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Health Officials Confirm Whooping Cough Outbreak in Greene
Posted: 4:45 PM Dec 5, 2008
Last Updated: 7:27 PM Dec 5, 2008
Health and school officials are investigating a whooping cough outbreak in Greene County. At least 8 cases have been found at Nathaniel Greene Elementary.
Both school administrators and health officials say they've already alerted parents and are working hard to get this outbreak under control.
Over the past couple years local health officials say they've seen an increase in Pertussis or Whooping Cough cases.
Although, most children are vaccinated against this illness, it doesn't always work. The first two cases were confirmed in late November and now the outbreak has affected a total of 8 students.
?We've been working very hard with the schools letting the parents of these children know school- wide that we're in the process of investigating and letting parents know signs and symptoms to look out for,? said Elizabeth Davies, District Epidemiologist, Thomas Jefferson Health District
Pertussis develops in three stages. If you think your child is at risk, here's what to look out for:
1.) Cold-like symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose and mild coughing or a mild fever.
2.) Cold-like symptoms fade, but the cough gets worse. During a coughing fit it might be hard to breathe and it might be followed by vomiting. (This is the most dangerous stage of the disease.)
3.) Finally, the person's health improves, but the cough gets louder and sounds worse.
Because Whooping cough and cold symptoms are so similar, health officials suggest checking in with your doctor just to be safe.
Health Officials Confirm Whooping Cough Outbreak in Greene
Posted: 4:45 PM Dec 5, 2008
Last Updated: 7:27 PM Dec 5, 2008
Health and school officials are investigating a whooping cough outbreak in Greene County. At least 8 cases have been found at Nathaniel Greene Elementary.
Both school administrators and health officials say they've already alerted parents and are working hard to get this outbreak under control.
Over the past couple years local health officials say they've seen an increase in Pertussis or Whooping Cough cases.
Although, most children are vaccinated against this illness, it doesn't always work. The first two cases were confirmed in late November and now the outbreak has affected a total of 8 students.
?We've been working very hard with the schools letting the parents of these children know school- wide that we're in the process of investigating and letting parents know signs and symptoms to look out for,? said Elizabeth Davies, District Epidemiologist, Thomas Jefferson Health District
Pertussis develops in three stages. If you think your child is at risk, here's what to look out for:
1.) Cold-like symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose and mild coughing or a mild fever.
2.) Cold-like symptoms fade, but the cough gets worse. During a coughing fit it might be hard to breathe and it might be followed by vomiting. (This is the most dangerous stage of the disease.)
3.) Finally, the person's health improves, but the cough gets louder and sounds worse.
Because Whooping cough and cold symptoms are so similar, health officials suggest checking in with your doctor just to be safe.