NH - Whooping cough cases 2011

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Students At 2 Merrimack Schools Diagnosed With Whooping Cough​

School Department Says It's Working To Contain Spread

POSTED: 5:19 pm EST November 14, 2011

MERRIMACK, N.H. -- About a dozen students at two Merrimack schools have been diagnosed with pertussis, or whooping cough.

Superintendent Marge Chiafery said students began reporting symptoms in mid-October. Parents of children in the same classrooms as those infected were notified, and the district eventually sent letters home to all parents of students in the two schools, Reeds Ferry Elementary and Merrimack Middle School.

"I call it a contained outbreak," Chiafery said. "It was very defined in two buildings, and I feel those people in the know are doing everything possible. So I feel that there won't be any more spread of it, but if so, I feel we are on top of it.

Read more: http://www.wmur.com/health/29768176/detail.html#ixzz1djqjKPR8​

 

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Re: NH - Whooping cough cases 2011

November 18, 2011

NH sees whooping cough outbreak

By John Toole jtoole@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Fri Nov 18, 2011, 01:23 AM EST

The state is experiencing an outbreak of whooping cough, but no sign of problems yet in Southern New Hampshire.

A state Department of Health and Human Services alert advising of a moderate risk for whooping cough remains in effect.

"At this point, that level has not changed," Chris Adamski, chief of the Bureau of Infectious Diseases said yesterday.

Adamski said the outbreak is in nearby Merrimack, where it has affected about a dozen students at two local schools.
...
Whooping cough is highly contagious and can be deadly, though officials say vaccinations have curtailed outbreaks from levels of years ago. New Hampshire had 49 cases in the first nine months of the year. Last year, there were 22 cases, but the state had 79 in both 2009 and 2007.

Full text:
http://www.eagletribune.com/newhampshire/x229370368/NH-sees-whooping-cough-outbreak