Re: ME: 2011 Whooping cough cases
<TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD class=contentheading width="100%">
CDC to hold vaccination clinics to curtail whooping cough outbreak </TD><TD class=buttonheading width="100%" align=right></TD><TD class=buttonheading width="100%" align=right></TD><TD class=buttonheading width="100%" align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>
Written by Becky McGlauflin
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=createdate vAlign=top>
Thursday, 17 November 2011 05:42 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
DEXTER ?
Thirty cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, have been confirmed in the
Ridge View Community School in Dexter as of Monday, according to Principal Mike Tracy. All of those children, however, were taken to their doctors very quickly and are being treated.
?We believe we are on the other end of it, although I?m certain that number will rise a bit because the test results are coming back now,? said Tracy. He is optimistic because the absentee rate is back down to 18 percent after the high last week of 26 percent.
Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease of the upper respiratory system. It causes such severe coughing episodes that affected people find it almost impossible to catch their breath. When they are finally able to inhale, it creates a deep ?whooping? sound. Initial symptoms are similar to the common cold and the coughing starts about 10-12 days later. The infection can last 10 weeks or more, and is sometimes called the ?100-day cough.?
The Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) has been working very closely with the Ridge View School, both on campus and through daily communication with the school nurse. They have checked vaccination records to see which students need booster shots of Tdap, the vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
They will be holding vaccination clinics at the Ridge View School and Dexter High School on Friday, Nov. 18 with permission from parents.
More...
http://www.svweekly.com/joom1511/in...ping-cough-outbreak&catid=2:latest&Itemid=169
