http://nncf.unl.edu/nurses/temp/pertussis.html

 

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Kearney sees small outbreak of whooping cough

This information is from Tom Safranek, M.D., State Epidemiologist

(Feb. 2001) - The Nebraska Office of Epidemiology recently diagnosed a small outbreak of Pertussis (whooping cough) in Kearney, Nebraska. Pertussis is an underdiagnosed and underappreciated as a cause of cough and respiratory illness.

The vaccines for pertussis fail to provide persistent immunity. Immunity diminishes throughout the school years, such that by the late teenage years, most persons are susceptible. The illness which occurs in those who have been vaccinated is generally far less severe than in the unvaccinated.

Description of an outbreak in Arizona: As of Feb. 21, 2001, a total of 80 cases of pertussis have been identified in an outbreak in a community in Pima County, Arizona.

Of the 80 cases, 21 have been categorized as culture confirmed; 50, epidemiologically linked; and 9, probable. The last culture-confirmed case had cough onset on December 25. The outbreak began in a middle school, with cases spreading to students, families, and teachers in surrounding elementary, middle, and high schools. Of the 80 case-patients, 5 (6%) were aged <6 years; 38 (48%), 7-13 years; 16 (20%), 14-20 years; and 21 (26%), >20 years (range: 2 months-52 years). Two case-patients have been hospitalized with lengths of stay ranging from 1 to 2 days. No deaths have been attributed to this outbreak.

To control this outbreak, Pima County health officials have recommended infants receive pertussis vaccine on an accelerated schedule and exclusion of students from any county school who exhibit paroxysmal coughing or any cough lasting more than one week.

However, these persons can expose infants and children who have yet to complete their pertussis vaccination series. Illness in this under-vaccinated group can be much more severe.

School nurses and other health care providers should be alert to the possibility of pertussis in persons with persistent cough, and should consider diagnostic testing. If pertussis is confirmed, infection control practices can help circumscribe/eliminate an outbreak.

For a more complete discussion, see the Nebraska Epidemiology Report: http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/epi/whooplong.htm and http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/epi/epiwhoop.htm.

To see an article about Whooping Cough making a comeback, visit the story on C-Health, a Canadian news & information website.

 

Last modified: November 12, 2001

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.