| Stanislaus
County – Pertussis, also know as “whooping cough,”
is on the rise in the San Joaquin Valley. The disease is a highly communicable,
vaccine-preventable disease that lasts for many weeks and is characterized
by a severe coughing and sometimes vomiting.
Stanislaus County reported 13 cases of Pertussis in 2004 and has reported
28 cases of the disease so far in 2005. Cases ranged from 3 weeks of age
to a 62-year old.
Fresno County had 18 cases in 2004 and reports 220 cases in 2005. Tulare
County had 3 in 2004 and reports 19 cases in 2005. Madera County had no
reported Pertussis cases in 2004 and reports 34 so far this year.
“The success of preventing Pertussis is treating not only the ill
person, but their very close contacts,” stated John Walker, M.D.,
public health officer for Stanislaus County. Close contacts of the infected
patient are given antibiotics.
“Help is on the way,” Dr. Walker continued, “because
soon there will be a vaccine for adolescents and adults. Pertussis is
no longer just a childhood disease.”
Pertussis can cause complications most commonly in infants and young
children. Complications can include pneumonia, seizures, malnutrition,
hypoxia, apnea and encephalopathy. In 2003, 13 children died in the United
States from Pertussis. Most deaths occur among unvaccinated children or
children too young to be vaccinated.
Stanislaus first reported in March 2004 to the local medical community
of a national uptrend of Pertussis cases. In June 2005, the local health
department issued a detailed fax broadcast to healthcare providers (2300)
and informed school nurses on the regional and local uptrend of cases
and what to look for.
A vaccine has been developed as a booster for children, adolescents and
adults that is expected to be available in California within the next
few months.
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