WI: 2010 Whooping cough cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.nbc15.com/news/headlines/95637064.html

Pertussis Case Confirmed In Rock County

Rock County Health Department: a case of Pertussis (whooping cough) confirmed in a Middle School student in Edgerton.

Posted Friday, June 4, 2010 --- 2:15 p.m.

Press Release from the Rock County Health Department:

Karen Cain, Public Health Officer with the Rock County Health Department, announced today that Pertussis (whooping cough) has been confirmed in a Middle School student in Edgerton.

Cain explains the health department is taking the necessary steps to stop the spread of the disease. "Public Health Nurses are contacting individuals exposed to this case to determine their risk for developing Pertussis," she states. "They are also working with the family involved to minimize the risk to the public..."

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: WI: 2010 Whooping cough cases

New cycle of whooping cough could hit here, health officials say

By BILL NOVAK | The Capital Times | bnovak@madison.com | Posted: Thursday, July 8, 2010 9:40 am

Local public health officials are urging parents to have their kids -- even older teens -- vaccinated against pertussis (whooping cough) so an outbreak like the one hitting California doesn't happen here.

Public Health Madison/Dane County said parents and health care professionals need to make sure infants and young children get the full series of five shots of DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) vaccine, and older kids get a booster shot of Tdap vaccine.

As of September, all students in grades 6-12 are required to have had the Tdap booster shot.

California has seen 1,500 cases of whooping cough, including several that resulted in fatalities among babies.

The most recent big outbreak here was in 2004 when more than 850 cases of whooping cough were reported in Dane County.

Last year, only 23 cases were reported here.

Pertussis seems to appear in cycles, health officials said, with cases increasing markedly about every five years or so.

DTaP is given in a series of five shots from infancy to 4-6 years old, with the vaccinations administered at two months, four months, six months, 15-18 months and 4-6 years of age.

Public Health said only 79 percent of all children turning 2 years old in 2009 had had all four of their DTaP shots.

It's important for older kids and adults to get the Tdap shot if there's a newborn at home, since infants can't get their first shot of DTaP vaccine until they are 2 months old.

"That provides a cocoon of safety from the risk of pertussis infection," Public Health said in a release.

"The effort to protect our families against whooping cough as well as other preventable illnesses is really a collaboration between families, doctors, clinics and Public Health," Public Health Director Dr. Tom Schlenker said in a statement.

"Please protect our little citizens by making sure the DTaP vaccine is on your family's 'to-do' list."

What to do?
-- Check your family's immunization records and make sure children have had the vaccine on schedule; if not, get the shots as soon as possible.
-- Ask your doctor to give you the Tdap vaccination if you've just had a baby and haven't had a booster shot recently.
-- Keep babies away from people with colds and coughs.
-- Practice good cough hygiene.

Whooping cough starts out like a normal cold, but after one or two weeks, severe coughing ensues, to a point where the infant or young child gets out of breath and inhales with a loud "whooping" sound.

For more info on local vaccination clinics, go here.

For more info on pertussis, go here.

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/loc...cle_9c71c1a8-8a99-11df-95a9-001cc4c002e0.html

 

[Shiloh]

Re: WI: 2010 Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/102906584.html

Whooping Cough Outbreak In Wauwatosa
By Michael George

WAUWATOSA - An outbreak of whooping cough in Wauwatosa has health experts concerned. The Wauwatosa Health Department says they have seven reported cases of whooping cough, also called pertussis. They are also testing dozens of additional potential cases. Most of the victims are children.

Whooping cough can be deadly for children. Mary Rotar, Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, says children can often get whooping cough from adults, who typically experience minor symptoms.

"That's where it's coming from. Children pick this up from their babysitters, from their older siblings, from their grandparents, and unfortunately, sometimes, from their parents," Rotar said...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: WI: 2010 Whooping cough cases

Source: http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/103963714.html

Whooping Cough Spreads In Wauwatosa
By Michael George

Story Created: Sep 28, 2010

WAUWATOSA - Wauwatosa health officials are monitoring an outbreak of whooping cough, or pertussis. A dozen likely cases have been identified so far, and a few new cases seem to pop up in Wauwatosa every week...