Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/22779114.html

Whidbey News Times
Pertussis outbreak concerns physicians on Whidbey

REBECCA OLSON, Intern
rolson@whidbeynewstimes.com
Published: July 01, 2008 12:00 PM
Updated: July 01, 2008 12:48 PM

Cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, have appeared throughout Whidbey Island within the past week. Pertussis is highly contagious and debilitating for both children and adults.

"We've confirmed 11 cases in the county recently. Even more are expected to eventually show up," said Health Officer Roger Case, MD.

Pertussis is a bacterial infection spread by coughing. The symptom of pertussis is a progressively worsening cough. There is no fever, but after a week, coughing fits may induce nausea and vomiting.

"It can start out acting like a common cold but then it gets worse, so look out for that," said Freeland pediatrician Dr. Robert.

Pertussis is more obvious in children than in adults. Adults may have the disease and not be aware of it.

"If you have a cough that persists for two or three weeks, get it checked out," Case said.

Contact a doctor immediately if experiencing these symptoms.

"This is one of the more contagious communicable diseases," said Case.

If Pertussis spreads through unvaccinated individuals, it can create an epidemic in the community.

"People need to get their vaccines updated to limit the ability of the epidemic to spread. An epidemic can spread for months," said Wagner.

Most people receive the vaccine for pertussis as a child but it wears off after 5 to 10 years. The tetanus vaccine includes pertussis, so every adult should keep that vaccine current. If an unvaccinated individual contracts pertussis, the illness may last for months. The Health Department and doctors or healthcare providers can provide vaccination.

"It's hard to make this vaccine work perfectly. The vaccine works 75 to 80 percent of the time, but it's good enough to keep an epidemic under control," said Wagner.

Preventative antibiotics can be taken by anyone living in close contact with or in the same childcare classroom as infected individuals.

Those infected with pertussis should take the full course of antibiotic treatment and avoid contact with others until they are no longer contagious.

"We're just starting to see an outbreak so we want to get the information out there early enough to prevent an epidemic," Wagner said.

Heath Department staff members are examining recent pertussis cases and following up on potentially exposed individuals, according to Case.

All cases of pertussis should be reported to the Health Department at 679-7350. For more information on Pertussis and the vaccine, visit www.islandcounty.net/health/pertussis.htm.

Whidbey News Times Intern Rebecca Olson can be reached at rolson@whidbeynewstimes.com or 360-675-6611.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

Source: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/23937834.html

Number of Island County whooping cough cases rises to 18

BRIAN KELLY, Editor
editor@southwhidbeyrecord.com
Published: July 06, 2008 1:00 PM
Updated: July 07, 2008 9:23 AM

The number of "whooping cough" cases in Island County continues to climb, county officials reported this weekend.

A total of 18 cases of bordetella pertussis have been discovered in the past few weeks.

Island County Medical Officer Dr. Roger Case said most of the cases on South and Central Whidbey.

Case warned that whooping cough can occur at any age. Classic pertussis is characterized by spasms of severe coughing (paroxysms) lasting from six to 10 weeks. Case said pertussis should be suspected when any cough is paroxysmal or lasts more than a week.

The highly contagious disease typically lacks fever and classically progresses through three stages:

? Catarrhal (1?2 weeks): mild, upper respiratory tract symptoms gradually develop with an intermittent non-productive cough.

? Paroxysmal (1?2 weeks or longer): spasms of cough end with a gasp, whoop, or vomiting

(post-tussive emesis). Adolescents and adults may have less dramatic symptoms.

? Convalescent (2?6 weeks or longer): gradual resolution of the paroxysmal coughing.

Case said immunizations can reduce the possibility of getting the disease or spreading it.

County public health staff personnel are tracking all known contacts of those identified with the disease.

South Whidbey Record Editor Brian Kelly can be reached at editor@southwhidbeyrecord.com.

 

[Oracle]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

You may recall that Whidbey Island reported a particularly lengthy and vicious bout of seasonal influenza (2008).

Some infections hung on for months (cyclic reinfection, perhaps), not weeks for a total period of more than 5 months (Dec-April) among the tiny island population.

 

[Amish Country]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

Maybe we should have a thread dedicated to each childhood disease just to make finding information on a specific disease easier to locate?

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

Source: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/24037549.html

Still more cases of whooping cough reported on Whidbey Island

JEFF VANDERFORD, Sports, Port of S. Whidbey
jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com
Published: July 07, 2008 1:00 PM
Updated: July 07, 2008 1:31 PM

Four more cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, were reported over the weekend on South Whidbey.

"We now have 22 cases confirmed," said Island County Medical Officer Dr. Roger Case. "I have advised principals of all island schools to be aware of the situation to make sure non-immunized children stay home from activities where they can come in contact with the disease."

Case said he planned to contact the South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District with the same warning.

It takes 24 to 36 hours for a laboratory report to get back to a doctor's office in order to confirm that whooping cough is present.

Case added that anyone having a persistent cough for more than a few days should consider the possibility they may have pertussis, which is spread by coughing.

Immunization, while not 100 percent effective, sharply reduces the chances for contracting the disease.

Case recommended that persons suspected of having pertussis should avoid contact with others until no longer contagious and take the full course of antibiotic treatment.

For information, visit www.islandcounty.net/health/pertussis. All cases of pertussis should be reported to the Island County Health Department at 360-679-7350.

South Whidbey Record Sports, Port of S. Whidbey Jeff VanDerford can be reached at jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com or (360) 221-5300.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

Source: http://www.nwcn.com/health/stories/NW_070908WAB_whidbey_whooping_cough_KS.3c42e5f6.html

More whooping cough cases confirmed on Whidbey Island

02:51 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 9, 2008

By KING5.com Staff

Video: What whooping cough sounds like
Larger screen E-mail this clip

COUPEVILLE, Wash. - The number of confirmed cases of whooping cough on Whidbey Island has increased to 25.

The island is dealing with an outbreak of the illness, also known as pertussis.

It is keeping players out of the local Little League tournament. Officials say three local teams have pulled out of the games because of concerns about the infectious disease.

Dr. Roger Case, Island County's health officer, says they're working on the assumption that for every confirmed case of whooping cough they have, there are probably 10 more out there that have not been tested or confirmed.


Doctor Bob Wagner, of South Whidbey Pediatric, called it a "widespread epidemic."

Wagner started seeing a steady stream of young patients come in with cold-like symptoms a few weeks ago. Lab tests showed many of them actually suffered from whooping cough, an infection of the respiratory system caused by a bacterium.

"Unfortunately, whooping coughs start out looking like a cold," Wagner said.
The disease is highly contagious. It can spread from someone sneezing or coughing.

The best prevention is getting the vaccine, but even that is not perfect.

"Three fourths of people will get good immunity, and one fourth of people will lose that immunity over time," Wagner said.

In the meantime, doctors across Whidbey Island are trying to get the word out, especially to parents of young children. While the outbreak may be on Whidbey Island now, ferry traffic could easily help it spread.

"It's most risky to people that have chronic diseases, to small babies, and to people with lung diseases," Wagner said.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

Source: http://heraldnet.com/article/20080710/NEWS01/236774687

Published: Thursday, July 10, 2008

Whooping cough forces 4 baseball teams out of tourney

The baseball teams on Whidbey are cut over concerns about whooping cough.

By Sharon Salyer, Herald Writer

National Little League officials have eliminated four south Whidbey Island teams from post-season All-Star tournament play due to concerns over the spread of whooping cough.

The decision was made Wednesday afternoon. It follows a request from Dr. Roger Case, Island County's health officer, to discontinue the competition because of concerns over the rapid spread of the disease on the island.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is very contagious. It can be serious for infants and can be debilitating for older children and adults.

Approximately 18 teams were initially involved in the post- season competition. Little League officials decided to eliminate the four teams from south Whidbey, where most of the confirmed whooping cough cases have been reported.

"We think the Little League tournament is important, but the health issues of the community certainly outweighs winning and losing ball games," said Lance Van Auken, a spokesman for Little League Baseball and Softball.

Chris Nelson, South Whidbey Little League vice president, said he is upset with the decision to eliminate only teams from his area.

"This is absurd what they're doing to these 52 boys," he said of the members of the four affected teams. "Their dreams have been shattered."

The disease has been reported throughout the island, he said. "It's not just a south Whidbey epidemic."

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases of whooping cough in Island County increased by three cases Wednesday. The total number of people diagnosed with the disease has now risen to 25.

"I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see that number double over the next week to 10 days," Case said.

Typically, only five to 10 cases are reported in Island County each year, he said.

Case said people who aren't fully immunized against the disease should avoid public gatherings until the outbreak of whooping cough subsides.

Adults should receive an immunization every 10 years, he said.

Due to the rapid spread of whooping cough among youngsters, particularly those on the southern part of the island, Case's request to discontinue the tournament was sent to Little League's international headquarters in Pennsylvania on Wednesday.

After the organization made its decision, Case briefly considered allowing one of the four teams -- made up of 13- and 14-year-old boys -- to play if tests proved that none of them had the disease.

By late Wednesday afternoon, Case was told that the state Health Department laboratory could not turn around the tests quickly enough for the results to be ready before the team played, even if the competition was delayed until Tuesday morning.

For this reason, none of the four south Whidbey teams can play in the tournament.

Kenneth Tyler, president of the North Whidbey Little League, said he has been involved with Little League on Whidbey Island for 30 years. "This is a first," he said of eliminating four teams from the competition because of a disease outbreak.

Tyler said he was disappointed with the decision but understands it.

"We're using a broad brush," he said. "We may have teams and kids who aren't infected, but they're being eliminated. I guess it's what they have to do to make sure this thing doesn't spread any worse."

Twenty-one other tournament games will continue, with the games scheduled in Oak Harbor and Burlington through the weekend, he said.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

Source: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080711/NEWS01/466383549&news01ad=1

Published: Friday, July 11, 2008
Whooping cough outbreak in Island County spurs call for caution
Not immunized for whooping cough? Avoid public events, health officer says

By Sharon Salyer
Herald Writer

People who aren't immunized for whooping cough should avoid public events, including Choochokam, this weekend's big art festival in Langley, Island County's health officer said Thursday.

The art festival, now in its 33rd year, is happening Saturday and Sunday, with art displays and concerts that attract thousands of people to the town.

"A wise person wouldn't go into an area where they're exposed to a disease they can catch," said Dr. Roger Case, health officer for Island County Public Health. "I don't know how more simply I can put it."

But if people are up-to-date on shots, there's no reason not to go, he said.

The Langley Chamber of Commerce declined to comment, saying it has no expertise in health matters. Choochokam organizers could not be reached for comment.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is highly contagious. It can be serious for infants and debilitating for older children and adults.

A series of vaccinations against the disease is recommended for children. Many adults don't know that the immunization is now included in the tetanus shot, and the shot needs to be administered every 10 years, Case said.

Case said his recommendation also applies to children and adults attending sports camps and church gatherings at the Camp Casey Conference Center.

"I recommend don't bring your children if you're not fully immunized," he said.

In fact, anyone coming to the island should be up-to-date on whooping cough shots, Case said.

The warnings follow an outbreak of whooping cough. So far, 27 cases have been confirmed. Most of the reported cases involve people living on the southern half of the island, Case said.

Typically, only about five to 10 cases of whooping cough are reported on the island each year.

The recommendation for unvaccinated people to stay away from public events is one of several steps the public health agency has taken to stem the spread of the disease.

On Wednesday, Case and national Little League officials agreed that four teams from south Whidbey should be pulled from an All-Star tournament this week.

Case said he understands that such actions can upset people.

Chris Nelson, South Whidbey Little League vice president, called the decision to ban just four teams from the playoffs absurd, noting that the disease isn't limited to the southern part of the island.

"We're just doing our job," Case responded. "We have to curtail the spread of disease in every manner that's prudent. It's prudent to close down an activity where we know people are going to congregate, where people are not protected."

Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

[FONT=ARIAL, SANS SERIF]Coupeville children exposed to pertussis[/FONT]

[FONT=ARIAL, SANS SERIF]By Justin Burnett[/FONT]
[FONT=ARIAL, SANS SERIF]Examiner Staff Writer[/FONT]

[FONT=ARIAL, SANS SERIF]Some children who participated in the Coupeville Lions Club swimming classes may be at risk of contracting pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

Island County Health Officer Roger Case confirmed that several recent swimming students have been positively diagnosed with the disease, which is highly contagious. Case said children who attended classes between June 23 and July 2 may have been exposed.

As of July 14, 42 local residents had contracted the disease since the first case was diagnosed June 18 in South Whidbey. Fourteen live in Oak Harbor or Coupeville, while the remaining 28 are from the south end. Case declined to offer any details about how the outbreak started, citing confidentiality concerns.

"It would point to a specific individual," Case said.

The outbreak of pertussis led Case to tell three South Whidbey Little League teams not to play in scheduled league championships with teams from off the island. The risk of the highly contagious disease was just too great, he said.

South Whidbey's extremely low immunization rate - among the lowest in the state - left many residents unprotected, he said.

"There is no doubt in my mind that contributed to the outbreak," Case said.

According to Katie Hicks, a communicable disease coordinator at Island County Public Health, 366 South Whidbey students got exemptions during the 2006-2007 school year for all state-mandated immunizations. That accounts for 21 percent of South Whidbey's student population of about 1,700, Hicks said.

The state requirement applies only to students who attend schools and child-care centers certified by the state Board of Education. It does not apply to home-schooled children.

Case said it seems to be a community philosophy, but also may be tied with a widespread concern that immunizations may increase the incidence of autism. However, Case said there's no proven link between the two.

But that doesn't stop parents from choosing not to immunize their children, said Marcia Statz, a nurse in the South Whidbey School District. Other parents elect not to immunize their children because of the ease of getting an exemption, she said.

"It's a check-the-box kind of thing," Statz said.

Parents can cite personal, religious or medical reasons to get exemptions for their children. Educational institutions must honor their decision, she said.

Most parents cite personal reasons, which is the most convenient, she said. And some parents ask for an exemption because they don't want to take the time to dig up their children's immunization certificates.

"It's easier to sign an exemption than find the records," Statz said.

Of 366 exemptions in the 2006-2007 school year, two were for religious reasons and 11 were for medical reasons.

According to Case, pertussis each year kills 300,000 children around the world. Along with measles, it is among the most contagious of diseases. The only way to stay safe is to get vaccinated.

But vaccinations have changed in recent years and an estimated 70 percent of the nation's population unprotected.

"If you haven't had one in the last three years, you're not current," Case said.

To learn about prevention and treatment options for pertussis, call Island County Public Health at 360-679-7351 or contact your health-care provider.

http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=1564&TM=56287.97
[/FONT]

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

Number of whooping cough cases on Whidbey Island climbs to 54

JEFF VANDERFORD, Sports, Port of S. Whidbey

Published: July 18, 2008 3:00 PM
Updated: July 18, 2008 3:04 PM
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​

<!--endclickprintexclude--> The number of whooping cough cases has climbed to 54, Island County health officials said Friday.
And most of those who have been diagnosed with whooping cough during the recent outbreak have been children, said Island County Medical Officer Roger Case.
All told, 52 of 54 reported cases are children with pertussis. Most of the cases have occurred among the 7 to 11-year-old bracket.
South Whidbey schools have the highest noncompliance rate for immunization against pertussis ? 20.9 percent ? of the three primary Island County school systems.
"We are running a check on the immunization status of those classified as confirmed, probable and suspected as to whether they were fully immunized for their age, partially immunized or never immunized and will have this information at the completion of this outbreak," Case said late Friday.
The Coupeville School District had a non-compliant rate of 10.4 percent and Oak Harbor, 8 percent.
Most of the cases have been discovered on Central and South Whidbey. Only seven cases have involved patients north of Coupeville.
All cases of pertussis should be reported to the Island County Health Department immediately at 360-679-7350.
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/25629944.html

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

South Whidbey's unvaccinated spur pertussis outbreak

REBECCA OLSON, Intern
rolson@whidbeynewstimes.com
Published: July 21, 2008 4:00 PM
Updated: July 21, 2008 4:19 PM
<!--startclickprintexclude-->

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<!--endclickprintexclude--> Pertussis has risen to 55 cases on Whidbey Island as of Monday morning, as opposed to the 43 cases earlier last week. All except two of these cases are children, mostly in the 7 to 11-year-old age group, according to Roger Case, M.D., Island County's Health Officer.
Pertussis is also known as whooping cough. It is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes violent fits of coughing leading to vomiting and not being able to breathe.
Whidbey Island school districts allow students not to receive immunizations for personal or religious reasons. The Island County Health Department noted a trend between number of pertussis cases and pertussis immunization noncompliance rates among school districts.
All but seven cases of pertussis are from South Whidbey and Coupeville. South Whidbey harbors the majority of the pertussis cases and has a 12.4 percent immunization noncompliance rate in the school district. Coupeville School District has a 5.3 percent noncompliance rate. Oak Harbor School District has a 3.7 percent noncompliance rate.
The Island County Health Department is currently studying the immunization status of infected patients.
This is the second large pertussis outbreak of the year, according to Michele Roberts of the immunization program at the Washington State Department of Health. The other outbreak occurred in January in San Juan County.
Outbreaks like this are examples that people need to stay current on their vaccinations, according to Roberts. The vaccine is safe and usually causes few side effects.
Some people worry about how the vaccines are created in regards to fetal cells and testing. While some cell lines the vaccine is grown in do contain fetal cells, those cells are not contained in the vaccine, said Roberts.
"There's some fact based in the use of aborted fetal cells, but it's also become sort of an urban legend," Roberts said.
The vaccine is tested for "years and years" before it's used on the public, Roberts said. There are three phases of clinical trials that study safety and how the vaccine works in a population. These trials include thousands of people. After the trials, the vaccine can be licensed by the FDA. Then ongoing trials regarding effectiveness and safety are performed, explained Roberts.
The pertussis vaccine is not FDA licensed for people over the age of 64 because safety data is not known about that age group.
For people above age 64, Roberts recommended that they "make sure friends and family and caretakers are vaccinated." Also, they should refrain from spending time in crowded areas or around people coughing.
Most cases of pertussis are occurring in areas where non-vaccination rates are high.
"Make sure your vaccines are up to date and look for credible sources to base your decisions off of," said Roberts.
For more information about how the pertussis vaccine is made and tested, visit the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Web site at www.chop.edu.
Vaccinations can be received at any healthcare provider. They are also available at the Family Resource Center in Oak Harbor on Mondays from 1 to 4 p.m. or Community Health Services on South Whidbey first and third Tuesdays from 1 to 4 p.m., no appointment necessary. For more information, call the Health Department at 679-7351.


http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/25734609.html

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

Whooping cough cases up to 65 in Island County

JEFF VANDERFORD, Sports, Port of S. Whidbey
jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com
Published: July 22, 2008 5:00 PM
Updated: July 22, 2008 5:03 PM
<!--startclickprintexclude-->

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<!--endclickprintexclude--> The outbreak of whooping cough on Whidbey Island continues.
Island County Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roger Case reported late Tuesday there are 42 confirmed, five probable, and 17 suspect cases of pertussis for a total of 65.
"A few more are expected to be confirmed over the next several days," Case said.
All but seven have been from South Whidbey and the Coupeville area.
The county normally reports five to eight cases per year.
Apart from four adults, all of the cases have been children since the first reports started on May 19.
Case added that county health personnel continue to locate contacts and advise people on appropriate treatment and preventive measures in an effort to contain the spread of the very contagious disease.
Pertussis is largely preventable by timely administration of the age-appropriate vaccine, and this especially includes adults.
All cases of pertussis should be reported to the Island County Health Department immediately at 360-679-7350.
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/25780399.html

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

Cases of whooping cough on the rise on Whidbey Island
Whidbey Island's outbreak has likely reached its peak, a health officer says.
By Sharon Salyer
Herald Writer
The number of suspected or confirmed cases of whooping cough on Whidbey Island has now hit 65 -- more than twice the number who were ill just two weeks ago.

Dr. Roger Case, Island County's health officer, said Tuesday that he hopes that the outbreak is starting to peak. Cases first began being reported in mid-May.

Typically, eight or fewer cases are reported each year on the island.

Although the number of cases are expected to continue to rise for a while, "I think we're peaking as far as the number of people going to the doctor," he said. "I don't look for the numbers to rise much higher."

Most of the cases are clustered in the Coupeville and south Whidbey Island areas, he said. Children have been hit hardest by the disease. "The vast majority are between the ages of 7 and 13," Case said.

No cases have been reported from Camano Island.

The number of new infections should begin to drop off rapidly about two to three weeks after the last exposure to whooping cough, he said.

This is one of the largest outbreaks of whooping cough on Whidbey Island since the early 1990s, when a similar number of cases were reported. "It seems to come every six, seven or eight years," Case said.

It's fortunate that the most recent outbreak occurred when school was not in session or far more people could have been affected, he said.

About 12 percent of students in the South Whidbey School District have not been immunized against the disease, according to figures from the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. And about 20 percent of students have not received all required immunizations. Students can be exempted for personal or religious reasons.

However, school district officials are double checking the numbers to see if they are up-to-date, Case said.

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes coughing and gagging with little or no fever.

Coughing may include a croup or "whoop." Children 12 months and younger are the most vulnerable, according to health officials. Complications may include pneumonia, convulsions and, in rare cases, brain damage or death.

The whooping cough outbreak is a reminder that adults needs to get periodic immunizations, about every 10 years, to continue to have protection, Case said.

The health official said his previous advisory on people coming to the island for summer camps still is in effect: "If you're immunized, fine; if you're not, best to stay home."


http://heraldnet.com/article/20080723/NEWS01/855530523

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

More cases of whooping cough​

(Island County)- The Island County Health Department reported 13 more cases of whooping cough yesterday.
Health Director Roger Case says Whidbey Island will likely see a few more cases, but believes the outbreak is slowing.
Skagit County reported three whooping cough cases earlier this week. One Mount Vernon child contracted Pertussis while visiting Whidbey Island. The other two, a baby receiving treatment at Children?s Hospital in Seattle and a senior, are from Burlington and showed no relation to the Whidbey outbreak.


http://www.kapsradio.com/2008/07/25/more-cases-of-whooping-cough/

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Whidbey Island WA: Pertusis outbreak

Whidbey: Infant hospitalized with whooping cough has been released

By JEFF VANDERFORD
South Whidbey Record Sports, Port of S. Whidbey
Aug 07 2008 ? UPDATED
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<!--endclickprintexclude--> A 5-week-old baby boy sent to Children's Hospital in Seattle on Aug. 2 for complications from whooping cough was discharged early Thursday afternoon.
This had been the first case of a child hospitalized in Island County for pertussis since the outbreak began in early June, affecting 74 people, mostly in the 11 to 12-year-old age group.
The day before being sent to the hospital, the baby exhibited increased coughing, was having a hard time breathing and was turning blue from lack of oxygen, said Freeland pediatrician Robert
Wagner.
"This baby is in our risk population," Wagner said. "Though the incidence of new cases seems to be decreasing, parents of very young children need to be watchful."
Wagner said the problem has been compounded by the relatively high number of new births in Island County this summer.
Wagner has been working with public school districts and Island County health officials on a plan to make sure children are protected by the time South Whidbey schools open Sept. 4.
Washington state requires that children who haven?t received the appropriate vaccines must stay out of school, preschool and daycare for a set period of time, depending on the disease.
The Island County Health Department will make sure that will happen, officials said.
"Regarding the upcoming school session, I intend to follow the protocol that has existed for quite some time regarding communicable diseases showing up during school sessions," said Island County Health Officer Roger Case. "Symptomatic children will stay home for the duration of their illness, as will those 'exempted' from having to be immunized as long as the outbreak
continues," he said.
All cases of whooping cough should be reported to the Island County Health Department immediately at 360-679-7350.



http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/26394034.html