NZ: Whooping cough cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/eveningstandard/4820642a6502.html

Whooping cough surge a warning
By JANINE RANKIN - Manawatu Standard | Friday, 16 January 2009

An upsurge of whooping cough cases in Auckland is a warning the potential baby killer is never far away, says MidCentral's medical officer of health Jill McKenzie.

Auckland's Regional Public Health Service has had 16 notified cases since the beginning of December, up from six for the same period last year.

The MidCentral district's most recent cluster of four cases in September and October saw three babies around two months old admitted to hospital. "Two of the three hadn't been vaccinated at six weeks. Although that first shot might not have prevented the infection, it would have modified it." The fourth child was 17 months old and not vaccinated, but didn't need to be admitted to hospital.

Dr McKenzie said whooping cough was an ongoing danger to young babies. Immunity waned as children grew older, so it was an illness that was never going to be stamped out among older children and adults.

With the bug always present in the wider community, it was young babies under a year old who were most vulnerable to its worst impact. "That's why we are stressing the importance of vaccinating on time.

"The longer immunisations are delayed, the longer babies are at risk."

Parents are also warned to keep young babies away from people with a persistent cough that could be undiagnosed whooping cough.

About seven out of 10 babies aged under six months who get whooping cough need hospital care.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: NZ: Whooping cough up in Auckland

Re: NZ: Whooping cough up in Auckland

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/01/26/124598d5a3b4

NZ immunisation rates lower than world average

Updated at 10:12pm on 26 January 2009

A Unicef report into the health of the world's children shows New Zealand is lagging behind in infant immunisation rates.

Although work is being done to boost immunisation for children, health authorities in New Zealand say there is still some work to be done.

The State of the World's Children report shows 79% of New Zealand one-year-olds are vaccinated against measles, compared with an average of 93% in other industrialised countries.

Vaccination rates for diptheria, whooping cough and tetanus are also lower than the average.

The Ministry of Health's chief adviser for Child and Youth Health, Pat Tuohy, says the figures do not come as a surprise.

"We've been aware in New Zealand for some time now that our immunisation rates are poorer than they should or could be, and for the last couple of years we've been working very hard to pull those rates up."

Dr Tuohy says work is being done to make immunisation more readily available, and to educate parents who have concerns about immunisation safety.

He says the immunisation rate for infants improved by 9% in the last financial year, and he is confident the ministry can reach a target of 95% immunisation by mid 2012.

Nikki Turner, director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre in Auckland, says she is concerned about the effects of the poor uptake of vaccination.

"The result is we have higher rates of disesase than comparable Western countries and in particular, we have higher rates of whooping cough, which affect our babies.

"We still see a little bit of measles, we still see some of the other diseases we should never see - so it's definitely a concern to us."

Dr Turner says because many childhood diseases are relatively rare in New Zealand, people are not aware of the danger.

She says one of the barriers stopping parents from immunising their children is misinformation about side-effects.

Last year there was an outbreak of measles at a Canterbury preschool, where two children fell ill. Chief medical officer of Health Alistair Humphrey says it caught many parents by surprise.

"We need to remember that these diseases, which we don't see very often now because we vaccinate most of our children ... can be very dangerous," he says.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: NZ: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/2409412/Whooping-cough-hits

Whooping cough hits
Immunisation advised
By CLAIRE ALLISON - The Timaru Herald
Last updated 05:00 14/05/2009

Health authorities are warning that South Canterbury could be on the brink of a whooping cough epidemic.

Six cases of whooping cough were reported in the Timaru district last month. South Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Daniel Williams said an epidemic was due, with the last epidemic in South Canterbury in 2004-05. National whooping cough epidemics occur in three to four year cycles as levels of immunity in the population drop.

"There has been an increase in numbers [of cases of whooping cough] across the country, and I guess it's a warning that we may be moving into the next epidemic," Dr Williams said.

Whooping cough is highly contagious, usually characterised by a cough lasting longer than two weeks, with spasms of coughing ending in vomiting or difficulty breathing. In infants and children, the cough is often accompanied by a whooping sound.

"Infants are at highest risk, particularly the under-twos because they have small airways, so when they get infected it compromises their breathing in a way it doesn't for older children or adults."

Dr Williams said immunisation was the best prevention measure. New Zealand's childhood immunisation schedule sees children receive a vaccination against whooping cough at six weeks, three months, five months, 15 months and four years. Dr Williams said if children were behind in their immunisation schedule, it was worth catching up a case of better late than never.

Dr Williams said the pre-school booster had been introduced only in the last few years, so that might change the picture of how frequently epidemics occurred.

"The warning signs are there, in South Canterbury and around New Zealand."

South Canterbury's immunisation levels are above average. The national immunisation register shows that for the 12 months to December, 74 per cent of six month-old babies were fully immunised, compared to the national average of 61 per cent. In the same period, 86 per cent of two-year-olds were fully immunised, compared to 77 per cent nationally.

Other diseases notified in South Canterbury in April included two cases of mumps in the Timaru district, and one case of invasive pneumococcal disease.

Dr Williams said mumps were included in the notifications to monitor how effective the immunisation schedule was, rather than because of any particular public health issues.

There were seven reported cases of campylobacter and two of cryptosporidiosis in the Timaru district and one case each of giardiasis and yersinosis in the Waimate district in April.

No notifiable infectious diseases were reported in the Mackenzie district for the month.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: NZ: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0905/S00104.htm

Increase in whooping cough a reminder to immunise
Thursday, 14 May 2009, 9:25 am
Press Release: Toi Te Ora

MEDIA RELEASE 14 May 2009


Increase in whooping cough is a reminder to immunise babies on time

Parents in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes are urged to get their babies immunised against whooping cough (pertussis) to protect them from an expected outbreak.

The number of whooping cough cases is steadily rising in parts of New Zealand including Auckland and the Waikato. There have been 38 cases of whooping cough in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts so far this year (to May 14), compared to 18 for the whole of 2008. Whooping cough tends to occur in outbreaks every three to four years and this rise looks to be the beginning of the latest peak.

?Whooping cough is a preventable disease. If babies and young children are vaccinated, they can avoid the worst effects of this serious and sometimes life threatening illness,? says Toi Te Ora ? Public Health, Medical Officer of Health, Dr Jim Miller.

Babies under one year are most at risk of serious complications from the infection. Around seven out of ten babies who catch whooping cough when they are under six months old are hospitalised.

?We encourage parents to get their babies immunised at six weeks,? says Dr Miller. ?Babies who don?t get immunised on time are five times more likely to be hospitalised with whooping cough.?

Whooping cough symptoms start with a runny nose and dry cough. Coughing gets worse over the next few weeks developing into attacks of coughing. The ?whoop? sound occurs as babies draw a breath after a long coughing attack. Babies might go blue or stop breathing during coughing attacks.

If parents or caregivers have any questions about whooping cough they can call the Immunisation Advisory Centre on 0800 IMMUNE (466 863) or www.immune.org.nz.

ENDS

 

[Shiloh]

Re: NZ: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10579691

Whooping cough alert for parents
4:00AM Sunday Jun 21, 2009
By Anna Leask

Health authorities overloaded by swine flu are also facing a whooping cough outbreak, after a surge in the number of diagnosed cases.

In Auckland, 92 people have been diagnosed with the disease already this year compared to 57 for the whole of 2008.

Waikato has seen 57 cases, compared with 85 last year, and Canterbury has had 145 cases, after just 15 for the first half of 2008.

Wellington Regional Public Health did not provide figures.

Waikato District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Anita Bell said the increase in her region was a concern, particularly because whooping cough, often known as the 100-day cough, could be fatal for babies.

About seven out of 10 babies who catch whooping cough when they are under six months old are hospitalised, and one in 30 of those babies die.

Babies who do not receive their immunisations on time are up to six times more likely to be hospitalised.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service clinical director Dr Julia Peters said it was crucial for parents to ensure their babies had all their whooping cough immunisations on time.

They should have their first jab at six weeks and booster shots at three and five months. Further booster shots should be given at ages four and 11.

Peters encouraged parents to take their children straight to their GP if they were having coughing fits that end with a "whooping" sound.

"They may be perfectly fine between fits, but when they have one it's nasty. They may struggle to breathe, vomit or even turn blue."

Peters said whooping cough was infectious for 14 days.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: NZ: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/2533126/Whooping-cough-epidemic-coming

Whooping cough epidemic coming
By EMMA BAILEY - The Timaru Herald
Last updated 05:00 25/06/2009

South Canterbury could soon be in the grip of two epidemics.

Medical officer of health Dr Daniel Williams said while there were still no cases of the swine flu pandemic, this year there had been seven times more cases of whooping cough, with an epidemic thought to be on its way. Immunisation against whooping cough was the best prevention.

"There have been 14 cases of pertussis [whooping cough] notified in South Canterbury so far in 2009, compared with two cases in the same period last year.

"All have been in the Timaru district. We received a total of 10 notifications for whooping cough in South Canterbury in 2008."

During the whooping cough epidemics in 2002 and 2005-06 there were up to 40 notifications a month across South Canterbury.

"Pertussis epidemics tend to occur in four to five-year cycles."

Babies are the most at risk of complications from whooping cough and can become very ill and may not be able to feed or breathe properly. Many need to be admitted to hospital.

"Immunisation on time is the best way to protect young babies, who are most at risk from serious complications caused by this highly infectious disease.

"About 84 per cent of babies are protected once they have had three doses of vaccine at six weeks and three and five months. The vaccine protection wanes over time, so it is also important that four and 11-year-olds get their booster doses, especially if there is a baby in the family."

However, he did not recommend an alternative high flying treatment believed to cure whooping cough, by taking the sick person up to 2700m. "There's no evidence that flying in a plane cures whooping cough, and some doctors have suggested that the lower oxygen levels at higher altitudes may in fact be dangerous for people with pertussis."

South Canterbury Aeroclub president John Scott said there had been no inquiries to take people with whooping cough on a high altitude flight.

There has been no change in South Canterbury's swine flu status yesterday and no new tests have been carried out. All tests had returned negative results. The region remains in the containment phase.

Incident controller Christine Nolan said West End Hall had been confirmed as the site of the first community assessment centre for the flu. "There is no opening date planned at this stage. The timing of opening will be determined by the number of people who are sick with flu-like illness in the community."

The centres are designed to ease pressure on health services if large numbers of sick people overwhelm them. "Once a decision is made to open a assessment centre it will open within a day."

 

[Shiloh]

Re: NZ: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/08/24/1245c26f5dd9

Whooping cough outbreak on West Coast

Updated at 3:44pm on 24 August 2009

Health authorities on the West Coast have issued warnings after an outbreak of whooping cough.

This year 28 cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, have been reported. Seven of the cases have occurred in the past month.

West Coast medical officer of health Dr Cheryl Brunton says the whooping cough rate is three times higher than the national average.

She says babies under one year old are most at risk from serious complications and death.

Dr Brunton says parents should ensure their children are up to date with whooping cough vaccinations.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: NZ: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/news?article=5fd97ec2-a487-454d-b943-32cd17b9e214

07 SEPTEMBER 2009

Outstanding general practice effort in Canterbury

Lucy Ratcliffe
lratcliffe@nzdoctor.co.nz

Canterbury general practices and parents are being praised for their role in dramatically increasing MMR vaccinations in the face of a measles outbreak.

In August last year, Canterbury general practices administered 700 MMR jabs, but in August this year more than 5000 vaccinations have been given.

?This is an outstanding effort from the parents and general practices of Canterbury,? Canterbury DHB medical officer of health Alistair Humphrey says in a media release.

Early last month, the DHB wrote to all Canterbury GPs asking for assistance in identifying children at risk of catching measles, contacting the children?s parents and encouraging them to get vaccinated.

Signs of slow down

Immunisation Advisory Centre director Nikki Turner says there are signs the growth in measles cases is beginning to slow, but there are still a number of cases being reported around the country.

Canterbury has been the worst hit area for measles with more than 100 cases confirmed since May, according to the latest ESR measles report.

Almost 20 cases have been confirmed in the Auckland region (comprising Counties Manukau, Auckland and Waitemata DHB areas), and other cases have been confirmed in Northland, Nelson-Marlborough, Otago and Southland.

?If general practice continues to increase the MMR uptake we will decrease the spread,? Dr Turner says.

While it?s great Canterbury has managed to increase its immunisation rates, it?s disappointing it?s taken a near pandemic to do so, she says.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: NZ: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/big-rise-in-whooping-cough-cases-3006821

Big rise in whooping cough cases
Published: 4:38PM Tuesday September 22, 2009
Source: NZPA

Health workers in close contact with young babies will be offered free whooping cough immunisations in an effort to stop the disease being passed from adults to infants, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

Ryall says the number of whooping cough cases has risen markedly this year.

From January to August there were 876 notified cases - more than four times the number notified in the same period last year.

Midwives, Plunket nurses, Well Child workers, practice nurses and GPs will be offered free immunisations from October 1.

"Babies who get whooping cough can become very ill and may not be able to feed or breathe properly," Ryall says.

"Many need to be hospitalised. The best way to protect babies is to make sure they get their immunisations on time at six weeks, three (months) and five months."

Ryall says his advice is that whooping cough was always circulating at low levels but poor immunisation rates meant there were epidemics every three of four years.

"If we had higher whooping cough immunisation rates, the number of very sick babies and children and the rates of disease would be much lower."

 

[Shiloh]

Re: NZ: Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-heral...igher-than-average-mumps-whooping-cough-cases

SC has higher-than-average mumps, whooping cough cases
By EMMA BAILEY - The Timaru Herald
Last updated 05:00 29/10/2009


South Canterbury ? home of legionnaires, whooping cough and mumps.

Latest statistics show the region featuring at the wrong end of the notifiable diseases chart, but health authorities are not concerned with the high placing as only small numbers of people have been affected.

National surveillance of notifiable diseases by health boards for the past year to September show South Canterbury District Health Board (SCDHB) has the second-highest incidence of legionnaires' disease and mumps in the country and the fourth-highest incidence of pertussis (whooping cough).

South Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Daniel Williams said the number of people affected was small.

"The relatively high annual rates for South Canterbury for mumps and legionellosis are on the basis of small numbers. Two cases of mumps and three cases of legionellosis during the 12 months to September.

"Both mumps and legionellosis occur sporadically throughout the country.

"There were 25 cases of pertussis in SCDHB in the 12 months to September. There have been more cases of pertussis in 2009 than in 2008, and there was concern earlier in the year that the increased numbers might herald the start of another pertussis epidemic.

"However, notifications have not continued to increase, and remain well below the very high levels seen in South Canterbury during the last pertussis epidemic.

"The pattern has been similar in Canterbury and on the West Coast. In South Canterbury the highest rates of pertussis have been in the 15 to 19-year-old age group."

The key preventive measure for pertussis was on-time immunisation, he said.

"Pertussis may be life threatening for infants, whose narrow airways can become blocked, leading to breathing difficulties. Pertussis is an unpleasant and lingering disease in older children and adults. Immunity, whether due to immunisation or infection with pertussis, wanes with time, so ensuring children are re-vaccinated before starting school is important in stopping the spread of infection."

SCDHB chief executive Chris Fleming said latest statistics from the Ministry of Health showed 80 per cent of New Zealand two-year-olds were fully immunised, with the region comparing well.

"South Canterbury has a higher immunisation rate than the national average," he said.

 

[Tonka]

Re: NZ: Whooping cough cases

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3062449/Doctor-issues-whooping-cough-warning

Doctor issues whooping cough warning

By LYN HUMPHREYS - Taranaki Daily News Last updated 05:00 14/11/09

Whooping cough cases have leapt alarmingly in Taranaki, the region's medical officer of health is warning.

There have been 34 reported cases in Taranaki this year, compared with only two for all of last year.

Sixteen cases have been confirmed in the last three months."Whooping cough [or pertussis] is a highly contagious illness that is caused by bacteria. It can affect babies, children and adults, but it can be very serious and even life-threatening in babies under 12 months of age," Dr Richard Hoskins said.

The infection usually starts like a cold, with a runny nose and sneezing, before the characteristic cough develops.

The coughing bouts can be severe and frightening and may end with a crowing noise (the whoop), vomiting, or a period with no breathing.

Treatment is usually a course of antibiotics which can also reduce the time a person is infectious to others. Antibiotics need to be given within 21 days of the start of the general symptoms or within 14 days of the start of the cough.

Those affected should stay away from work, school and childcare until they have had five days of a seven-day course of antibiotics, or until 14 days after the start of the coughing, whichever comes first.

Dr Hoskins urges parents to ensure their children are fully immunised. If they are not, parents should see their health practitioner about completing the course of vaccinations.

Immunisation greatly reduces the chance of becoming infected. Babies need the full course to develop immunity, so those under one year, and particularly those under six months, are at highest risk.

The vaccine is free to all babies at six weeks, three and five months of age, with a booster at four years.

A booster is now provided to children at 11 years of age.

Dr Hoskins said it was also recommended for older adolescents and adults, particularly those who have contact with small children, to have a booster.

More information is available at Health Line 0800 611 116 or from a GP.

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