Whooping cough classroom cluster in ML School Dist.

 

Last updated 3/13/2015 at 3:52pm



Grant County Health District staff members are investigating five laboratory-confirmed cases and 149 people that came in close contact with ill individuals with whooping cough (pertussis) in Moses Lake schools: Peninsula Elementary and Chief Moses Middle School. No one has been hospitalized. “We are responding to a cluster of whooping cough cases among students in Moses Lake. Because of a large number of exposed and ill individuals in a very well-defined area, we are considering this a local cluster outbreak,” said Dr. Alexander Brzezny, Grant County Health Officer. “Preventing severe disease and death in infants is our highest priority. We urge all pregnant women to get vaccinated and urge parents to vaccinate infants and children if they are not up to date.” More cases are likely.

In an effort to control the spread of the disease, the Grant County Health Officer has recommended antibiotics for a defined number of individuals who have come into close contact with the ill students and for some families. Antibiotics are not recommended to the general public. The highest priority is given to infants, those who come in contact with children under 12 months of age, and pregnant women.

A pertussis (Tdap) shot is recommended for all who are not up to date. The vaccine reduces a chance that a person will become sick with pertussis. Getting pertussis does not prevent one from getting it again in the future.

“The Moses Lake School District and affected schools have been extremely cooperative and responsive,” said Jeff Ketchel, health district administrator. District staff are contacting all patients and patient’s parents to ask about their health and where they have visited.

Due to the increasing number of pertussis cases in Moses Lake please contact your healthcare provider if you are coughing or are concerned that you may have been exposed to pertussis. A person with pertussis spreads the disease through coughing. It is very important to stay home and away from other people while waiting for your appointment and test results or at least five days while taking antibiotics.

A typical case of pertussis starts with a cough and runny nose for one-to-two weeks, followed by weeks to months of rapid coughing fits that sometimes ends with a whooping sound. Unfortunately, young infants are less likely to have a notable cough – caregivers and health care providers should consider the possibility of pertussis in infants with coughs or colds to help in prompt diagnosis and treatment.

The Grant County Health Officer reminds residents:

• Pertussis (whooping cough) is a vaccine-preventable disease.

• Children may need up to five DTaP shots between two months of age and when they start school.

• Tdap shot is required for 6th grade school entry.

• Tdap is recommended for children 7-10 years old who are unvaccinated or undervaccinated for pertussis.

• Tdap shot is recommended for all adults who are not up to date and do not have contraindications to vaccine.

• Because immunity from the pertussis shot wanes, family members and caregivers of infants should make sure they are up to date with their pertussis vaccination.

• All pregnant women should get another Tdap vaccine at 27 to 36 weeks of each pregnancy, regardless of prior vaccine.

• To protect the babies, other family members should get the Tdap booster as soon as possible.

• All healthcare workers and childcare providers should be fully immunized for pertussis.

Washington State Department of Health: http://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/WhoopingCough.aspx

 

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