“Whooping Cough Outbreak Strikes Lowcountry”

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Charleston Post and Courier (SC) (www.charleston.net) (07/17/03) P. 1A; Langley, Lynne

An outbreak of whooping cough in two counties of South Carolina has infected 41 people with 15 others under investigation for possible infections, according to South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control infectious disease specialist Robert Ball. Ball also points to 400 close contacts of the victims receiving antibiotic treatment as a preventive measure. Although an investigation into the cause of the outbreak is ongoing, the exact cause will probably remain unclear. Children in the state receive a vaccination against the disease before entering school or daycare, but the vaccine does not prevent all strains of the disease, such as the strain involved in the recent outbreak. With preventative measures and the cooperation of everyone involved, Ball asserts the outbreak will not spread any further.

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