Genesee County Health Department
Better Life Through Better Health
Release Date: March 26, 2010
End Date: April 23, 2010
Contact Person: Fatema Mamou, Epidemiologist, Genesee County Health
Department
Phone: (810) 768-7971 or (810) 691-5118
RE: Pertussis Increase Continues
Cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough,
continue to rise in Genesee County. To date this year 15 cases have been
identified which is already twice the number normally seen in Genesee County
throughout an entire year. The Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) is
informing the community of this ongoing outbreak of disease. Spread of the
infection has been seen in group settings in Genesee County. It is likely
more cases are occurring as pertussis is often an unrecognized or
undiagnosed prolonged cough illness, especially among adolescent and adult
populations because they typically experience a milder course of illness.
This outbreak of pertussis was first identified in the
latter half of 2009 and the number of cases has remained elevated. Over 50%
of the cases in this outbreak have been among adolescents and adults.
Immunity from the vaccine wears off over time so there is an important need
for booster doses of pertussis vaccine in adolescence and adulthood. The
GCHD strongly recommends checking your immunization status, as well as your
children’s.
One-third of the cases have been among infants too
young to be protected by the vaccine. Young children, especially infants,
are at the greatest risk for severe pertussis disease and serious
complications and it is often adolescents and adults who spread the
infection to young children. It is critical that adolescents and adults,
especially those who have contact with infants and young children, ensure
that they are properly vaccinated against pertussis.
The
GCHD is reminding health care providers that pertussis is increasing in the
community and to consider it in their differential diagnoses. Those
diagnosed with pertussis should be treated with an appropriate antibiotic.
Persons exposed to a case of pertussis should make sure that they are
properly vaccinated against pertussis. In some situations, those in very
close contact to a case of pertussis may need treatment to prevent the
disease. Because no vaccine is 100% effective, it is important that
treatment be given to those close contacts regardless of vaccination status.
Health care providers should also ensure that their patients are fully
vaccinated. Vaccination against pertussis is the best way to control and
prevent the disease. Pertussis vaccine is administered in combination with
diphtheria and tetanus vaccine (DTaP) in a five-dose primary series and
protects children against whooping cough. The booster dose of the vaccine
that protects against pertussis (Tdap) is recommended for adolescents and
adults aged 11-64 years.
Symptoms of pertussis begin like a cold and include fever, runny nose and
coughing episodes that gradually become more severe. Coughing episodes
persist and become frequent even after cold symptoms subside and can last 1
month or longer. Coughing episodes may be severe and difficult to control
and are more frequent at night. In some cases gagging and vomiting occur
after coughing spells and the person may be become blue in the face from
lack of air. Between coughing spells the person often appears well.
Anyone who has symptoms that he or she thinks might be
pertussis should consult a health care provider. For more information see
the GCHD website at
www.gchd.us.
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