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http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/medical/story/4841837p-5855121c.html

Yolo urges vigilance for whooping cough

By Pamela Martineau -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Friday, October 18, 2002

Yolo County public health officials continue to urge parents, teachers and doctors to watch for signs of whooping cough in children and adults as the county struggles with an outbreak of the disease that has lasted more than two months.

Yolo County officials have reported 34 cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, to state epidemiologists since mid-August. Another five people are being investigated as possible pertussis patients.

Most of the cases of the highly contagious disease are centered in Davis, said Ann Souter, a Yolo County public health nurse. Last year, Yolo County reported only two cases of the disease.

Yolo health officials say they don't want to cause alarm in the community, but they want people to see a doctor if they or a family member have symptoms of the disease, such as coughing spasms followed by a high-pitched whoop as the patient struggles to breath.

"We've been trying to contain this by educating the community," Souter said.

Sacramento County also had an outbreak of the disease this year[/TEXT], with 111 cases reported to the state by this week. Spread of the disease appears to have tapered off in Sacramento, after peaking in June, said Jill Estroff, spokeswoman for the county Public Health Department.

Symptoms appear within six to 21 days after exposure to the bacteria causing the disease. In the early stages, symptoms include a runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough. About two weeks later come coughing spasms. The disease is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.

Pertussis is treated with antibiotics and is most dangerous to children less than 1 year old. Elderly people and those with suppressed immune systems also are susceptible to complications that can include pneumonia, convulsions and in rare cases, brain damage and death.

Yolo County in 1999 experienced an outbreak of pertussis, which lasted five months. At least 49 cases were reported to state officials in that outbreak.

 

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