Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1544907
Whooping cough cases on the rise
HEALTH: Woodstock health unit declares outbreak
Posted By HEATHER RIVERS, SUN MEDIA
The number of cases of whooping cough in the county has risen to 30, according to Oxford County Public Health and Emergency Services.
Last week the local health unit announced that they were investigating a couple of cases of the highly contagious disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis and declared an outbreak.
The majority of the cases have been identified in an unimmunized portion of the population located in Norwich Township.
In the past this unimmunized group, largely made up of members of the religious community known as Netherlands Reformed Church community, have suffered outbreaks of rubella (German measles) and last year an outbreak of mumps.
"It underscores the importance of immunization," said Elaine Reddick, program supervisor with the department's health protection program. "And how much that does to prevent outbreaks of preventable diseases."
Reddick said it is particularly important to seek treatment from a physician for whooping cough otherwise known as
pertussis, since treatment with antibiotics limits the contagious period to only five days.
Without antibiotics the period of contagion grows to 21 days, she said.
Particularly at risk are infants under one year of age.
"They can get very sick," she said. "Their lungs aren't capable of dealing with the disease."
Pregnant women, in their third trimester, are also able to transmit the disease to their newly delivered child.
Continued After Advertisement Below
Advertisement
"Then you'll have a young, vulnerable child with pertussis," Reddick said.
She advises pregnant women with whooping cough to seek immediate medical attention.
Reddick also advises parents to check their child's immunity status to ensure their immunizations are up to date.
Within the common immunization schedule, infants would receive vaccination for pertussis at two, four, six and 18 months, along with a booster immunization between ages four and six and again between the ages of 14 to 16. Children within those ages who haven't completed the immunization are at risk if they come in contact with someone who is infected.
Hundreds of cases of pertussis are reported in the province every year, with one to two cases in Oxford County.
Every year one to three deaths infants in Ontario are attributed to whooping cough.
Unlike rubella or the mumps, whooping cough is not an excludable disease, meaning unimmunized children are not prevented from attending school during an outbreak until they prove immunity.
Whooping cough cases on the rise
HEALTH: Woodstock health unit declares outbreak
Posted By HEATHER RIVERS, SUN MEDIA
The number of cases of whooping cough in the county has risen to 30, according to Oxford County Public Health and Emergency Services.
Last week the local health unit announced that they were investigating a couple of cases of the highly contagious disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis and declared an outbreak.
The majority of the cases have been identified in an unimmunized portion of the population located in Norwich Township.
In the past this unimmunized group, largely made up of members of the religious community known as Netherlands Reformed Church community, have suffered outbreaks of rubella (German measles) and last year an outbreak of mumps.
"It underscores the importance of immunization," said Elaine Reddick, program supervisor with the department's health protection program. "And how much that does to prevent outbreaks of preventable diseases."
Reddick said it is particularly important to seek treatment from a physician for whooping cough otherwise known as
pertussis, since treatment with antibiotics limits the contagious period to only five days.
Without antibiotics the period of contagion grows to 21 days, she said.
Particularly at risk are infants under one year of age.
"They can get very sick," she said. "Their lungs aren't capable of dealing with the disease."
Pregnant women, in their third trimester, are also able to transmit the disease to their newly delivered child.
Continued After Advertisement Below
Advertisement
"Then you'll have a young, vulnerable child with pertussis," Reddick said.
She advises pregnant women with whooping cough to seek immediate medical attention.
Reddick also advises parents to check their child's immunity status to ensure their immunizations are up to date.
Within the common immunization schedule, infants would receive vaccination for pertussis at two, four, six and 18 months, along with a booster immunization between ages four and six and again between the ages of 14 to 16. Children within those ages who haven't completed the immunization are at risk if they come in contact with someone who is infected.
Hundreds of cases of pertussis are reported in the province every year, with one to two cases in Oxford County.
Every year one to three deaths infants in Ontario are attributed to whooping cough.
Unlike rubella or the mumps, whooping cough is not an excludable disease, meaning unimmunized children are not prevented from attending school during an outbreak until they prove immunity.