Idaho: Whooping cough cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.2news.tv/news/36887639.html

Two cases of 'whooping cough' reported

Story Updated: Dec 30, 2008 at 11:56 AM MST
By KBCI Web Staff

BOISE - Idaho health officials confirmed Tuesday that two cases of whooping cough have been reported in Ada County.

One case was in a teenager and one in an adult male.

With 10 cases of pertussis now reported out of Elmore County, and Southwest District Health reporting two cases in Canyon County, it is increasingly important for the public to recognize the symptoms of pertussis and to update vaccination status to prevent it, health officials say.

Pertussis is a highly communicable, vaccine-preventable disease that lasts for many weeks and is most dangerous to newborns and infants. It starts with cold-like symptoms; sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough.

Within two weeks, a severe cough can develop with violent coughing spells.

A coughing person with pertussis may have a hard time catching his or her breath during a coughing spell and make a high-pitched "whooping" sound.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Idaho: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.idahostatesman.com/235/story/657115.html

Whooping cough outbreak among teens grows in Ada, Elmore counties
BY COLLEEN LAMAY - clamay@idahostatesman.com
Edition Date: 02/04/09

The number of cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in Ada and Elmore counties has climbed to 18, most of them associated with high schools.

Seven people have been diagnosed in Ada County, with six of the victims associated with Eagle High School, according to disease investigators at the Central District Health Department.

Eleven more people have been diagnosed in Elmore County, most of them associated with Mountain Home High School.

?The current trend with this disease seems to be its spread in high school populations.? said Nikki Sakata, program manager for communicable disease control at the health department.

?All persons 11 through 64 years of age should have a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) vaccination. Those who have not had that booster should get it.?

The ten year average of pertussis cases in the four counties of the Central District Health Department is about 30 cases per year.

Pertussis is a highly communicable, vaccine-preventable disease that lasts for many weeks and is most dangerous to newborns and infants.

Pertussis starts with cold-like symptoms; sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough.

Within two weeks, a severe cough can develop with violent coughing spells.

? A coughing person with pertussis may have a hard time catching his or her breath during a coughing spell and make a high-pitched "whooping" sound.

How can pertussis be prevented?

? If you?ve had an undiagnosed cough for 2 or more weeks call your doctor.

? If you?ve been exposed to a case of pertussis call your doctor.

? Make sure that everyone in your family or household has received all of their recommended pertussis immunizations.

? When you cough or sneeze, do it into your sleeve at the bend of your arm.

? Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Idaho: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-may1109-whooping_cough.16677d27.html

Health officials warn of whooping cough outbreak

12:20 PM MDT on Monday, May 11, 2009

Associated Press

BOISE -- The Central District Health Department is warning parents about a whooping cough outbreak in southern Idaho.

A letter went home with Boise students Friday -- informing parents of cases there, in Eagle, Meridian, Star and Mountain Home.

High school students account for more than 70 percent of these current cases.

The health department encourages you to make sure your Tdap vaccinations are up-to-d

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Idaho: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.idahostatesman.com/healthandfitness/story/771201.html

Small outbreak of pertussis continues in Boise
- Idaho Statesman
Published: 05/14/09


One teenager each at Borah and Timberline high schools and a student at Whitney Elementary School were diagnosed with pertussis in April, the health department says.

Since September 2008, more than two dozen pertussis cases have been reported in Ada, Elmore and Canyon counties. Many of the sick were high school students.

Pertussis, also called whooping cough, can become serious in children and adults, but is potentially fatal to babies too young to be vaccinated. A newborn baby in Eastern Idaho died of pertussis in April.

Teens and adults can potentially spread the disease to vulnerable babies because their childhood vaccinations have worn off.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Idaho: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.ktvb.com/news/health/stories/ktvbn-may1809-whooping_cough.167ccf13.html

Five new cases of whooping cough among Boise students

01:06 PM MDT on Monday, May 18, 2009

KTVB

BOISE -- The Central District Health Department tells us that five cases of whooping cough or pertussis have been reported to health officials in the past two weeks.

The most recent case afflicted a student at Valley View Elementary School in Boise. A student at Whitney Elementary School in Boise has also been diagnosed with pertussis.

Three other cases have struck students at Borah and Timberline high schools in Boise.

This follows a trend that began last fall when epidemiologists starting tracking an outbreak at Mountain Home High School and another one at Eagle High School. Overall, nearly two dozen cases of pertussis have been diagnosed in the Boise area.

Parents need to be aware that pertussis can result in serious respiratory illness, and sometimes requires hospitalization. The bacteria is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Pertussis affects people of all ages, but the very young are most susceptible.

The health department recommends parents have their children vaccinated for pertussis.

For more information. call the CDHD immunization nurse line at 321-2229.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Idaho: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/857888.html

New shot can prevent whooping cough

The Associated Press ? Published May 21, 2009


BOISE, Idaho ? Idaho health officials say the state is on track to record twice as many whooping cough cases this year than in 2008, but few kids and adults are signing up to get a new booster shot to protect against the contagious illness.

So far in 2009, Idaho has 44 confirmed cases of whooping cough, also called pertussis, with an epicenter in Ada and Elmore counties, The Idaho Statesman reported. Forty cases were reported in all of 2008.

Health officials say confirmed cases represent only a small percentage of people who actually get sick.

"We are at the tip of the iceberg with all of the coughing kids we've seen this winter," said Barb Thomas, nurse at the 1,300-student Borah High School in Boise. Just two cases of pertussis were confirmed among students, both in April, and six more unconfirmed cases were treated by physicians.

Thomas saw another dozen students who fit the pertussis profile.

The problem, authorities say, is that too few Idaho children get the vaccine, and too few teens and adults get booster shots to keep their immunity up.

A baby died of whooping cough in eastern Idaho in April. The child was too young to be vaccinated - children can get pertussis vaccinations after 6 months, state epidemiologist Dr. Christine Hahn said. Officials declined to provide details.

Many people are unaware of the booster shot, which is relatively new. State health officials hope that more adults will line up for the booster soon.

"We've had such a problem for years and years in Idaho," said Hahn. "This is the biggest beacon on the horizon."

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection spread by coughing or sneezing. Sick children cough violently until the air is gone from their lungs. When they finally breathe in, they may make a loud "whooping" sound.

More than half of pertussis-infected infants under 1 year old must be hospitalized, according to federal health authorities, and newborns too young to build up immunity are at the highest risk of dying.

Low-cost vaccinations and boosters, subsidized with tax money, are available for children up to age 18 at health departments in southern Idaho. A check of four immunization sites for adults showed prices ranging up to $78. Blue Cross of Idaho, the state's largest insurer, covers both the vaccination and the booster.

The vaccine is called Tdap because it protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Idaho doesn't require it or any other immunizations for middle or high school students who were fully immunized as young children.