NC: Whooping cough cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990325049

Whooping cough cases increase in Haywood County
Staff reports ? published March 25, 2009 2:15 pm

Waynesville ? About 600 Haywood County residents are being treated for whooping cough following the confirmation of at least nine cases of the acute respiratory infection over the past two weeks.

Health officials have contacted about 800 family members, friends and others who may have had contact with people who have tested positive for whooping cough, or pertussis, and administered antibiotics to about 600 of them as a preventative step to stem the spread of the disease.

They have also administered more than 500 doses of the Tdap booster vaccine that provides immunization against whooping cough. The health department has also obtained an additional 1,000 doses of vaccine in anticipation of an increase in the number of confirmed cases over the next few weeks.

?It?s like getting ahead of a wildfire with a garden hose,? said Julia Plemmons, director of nursing at the Haywood County Health Department. ?We?re trying to head off or look at areas we think we can be proactive.?

Whooping cough, or pertussis, was first detected in the county in early March after a new mother from Haywood County who gave birth at Mission Hospital came down with the infection that is characterized by sudden, uncontrollable fits of coughing.

Four more people from Haywood County have since tested positive for the disease including the mother?s newborn and another baby, who were both hospitalized, along with another child and an employee at Mission Hospital. There are four other people who are considered confirmed cases because of their relationship to the infected individuals.

Babies and young children who are not fully immunized against whooping cough are at the highest risk for developing complications for the disease, which can include bacterial pneumonia, rib fractures and death.

?It?s not a benign disease for babies,? said Dr. Steve Swearingen, medical director at the Buncombe County Health Center. ?It?s very deadly.?

The outbreak has caused Haywood County to launch an investigation to figure out the source of the infection while also trying to stop the spread of the disease. Health officials believe the current outbreak is limited to Haywood County, which Plemmons said hasn?t seen a reported case of whooping cough in more than 20 years.

While the health department is working to give antibotics and asking residents who have symptoms to limit their contact with the public, Plemmons said she expects the number of confirmed pertussis cases to rise for several weeks because the disease is spread easily through coughing and sneezing.

?At this point I don?t think we are on the decline yet, but I?m hoping that with as hard as we are working that we can shortly say that we are, but we can?t say that right now,? she said.

The Haywood County Health Department is holding a Tdap vaccine clinic 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the health department, 2177 Asheville Road in Waynesville. Call the health department at 452-6675 to schedule an appointment.

The Tdap booster vaccine will be available to residents between 10-64 years of age who have not received a booster in the last several years. It is recommended that adolescents and adults get the Tdap vaccine in place of the previously recommended tetanus and diphtheria (Td) boosters, especially if they have come into contact with infants under 12 months of age.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: NC: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.caswellmessenger.com/articles/2009/05/19/education/edu02.txt

Whooping cough case confirmed in Caswell County

BY FRED E. MOORE
May 19, 2009 - 09:56:36 pm CDT

Recently, there has been one case of confirmed pertussis (whooping cough) reported in Caswell County. Whooping cough can be a very serious disease in both children and adults but particularly for infants less than one year of age. Since it is quite contagious, the disease can easily spread through the air from a sick person during talking, sneezing, or coughing but it can usually be prevented with routine childhood and adult vaccinations.

Pertussis begins with cold symptoms and a cough which becomes much worse over 1-2 weeks. Symptoms usually include a long series of coughs ("coughing fits") followed by a whooping noise as people inhale. However, older children, adults, and very young infants may not develop the typical whoop. There is generally either mild or no fever. People with pertussis may have a series of coughs that are often followed by vomiting, turning blue, or difficulty catching breath. The cough may last for months, is often worse at night and cough medicines usually do not help prevent the cough.

Whooping cough is found throughout the world and the number of cases tends to increase and decrease in cycles. North Carolina is currently seeing an increase in the number of cases. In 2006, there were over 300 cases in North Carolina and over 15,000 cases across the United States.

Please consider the following North Carolina Department of Health recommendations:

1. Infants under one year, and particularly under six months, are most likely to experience severe illness and may require hospitalization if they develop pertussis. When possible, young infants should be kept away from people with a cough. Infants with any coughing illness should be promptly evaluated by their doctor.

2. Children in our state are required by North Carolina law to receive five doses of the DTaP vaccine before entering kindergarten. However, it is not uncommon for whooping cough to develop as children age and their immunity to the disease wanes. For that reason, school entry requirements were recently changed to address the increase in whooping cough cases seen in our state. These rule changes went into effect beginning with the 2008-09 school year. The new rule increases the vaccination requirements for students at public, private and home schools as well as college students.

3. Parents are urged to check their children's shot records to be sure they have received all their shots. If they are not sure their children are completely immunized, they should contact their family doctor or the Caswell County Health Department to bring their children's immunization up to date as soon as possible. These vaccines are provided free of charge by the state.

4. Adults and children 7 years and older usually develop a milder form of pertussis but this is also preventable by receiving a vaccination for whooping cough that is designed for teenagers and adults.

Anyone who is suspected of having whooping cough or who is exposed to a person with the disease should be seen by their physician as antibiotics may shorten the course of the illness. However, the best way to fight whooping cough and prevent the potentially tragic consequences of the disease is to get immunized.

For more information call the Caswell County Health Department at (336) 694-4129 or visit www.cdc.gov.