ruthbeme
Well-known member
Health Officials Battle Palo Alto Whooping Cough Outbreak
POSTED: 2:47 pm PST November 14, 2006
<!--startindex-->PALO ALTO -- Health officials have diagnosed seven cases of whooping cough at Palo Alto High School and suspect 37 more, part of a rise in U.S. cases of the disease in recent years.
To stem the outbreak, which started with a single case in September, county health officials have planned a free vaccination clinic at the school Wednesday for all 1,700 students.
The infection, also known as pertussis, often results in weeks of violent coughing that can crack ribs and lead to pneumonia. Scientists believe the protection children receive from vaccination at a young age can wane significantly after 10 years, leaving teens susceptible to the disease.
The 25,000 reported U.S. cases of whooping cough in 2004 was the highest number in more than four decades. Epidemiologists have not determined whether actual infections are increasing or just diagnoses.
Santa Clara County has had 70 cases so far this year, compared with 161 in 2005. The school district is requiring students with a severe cough to stay out of school for five days after being put on antibiotics.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/10320381/detail.html<!--stopindex-->
POSTED: 2:47 pm PST November 14, 2006
<!--startindex-->PALO ALTO -- Health officials have diagnosed seven cases of whooping cough at Palo Alto High School and suspect 37 more, part of a rise in U.S. cases of the disease in recent years.
To stem the outbreak, which started with a single case in September, county health officials have planned a free vaccination clinic at the school Wednesday for all 1,700 students.
The infection, also known as pertussis, often results in weeks of violent coughing that can crack ribs and lead to pneumonia. Scientists believe the protection children receive from vaccination at a young age can wane significantly after 10 years, leaving teens susceptible to the disease.
The 25,000 reported U.S. cases of whooping cough in 2004 was the highest number in more than four decades. Epidemiologists have not determined whether actual infections are increasing or just diagnoses.
Santa Clara County has had 70 cases so far this year, compared with 161 in 2005. The school district is requiring students with a severe cough to stay out of school for five days after being put on antibiotics.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/10320381/detail.html<!--stopindex-->