An empty bottle of Tetanus, Diphthera and Pertussis, (whooping cough) vaccine at Inderkum High School in Sacramento, Calif. Health officials say the U.S. is on track to have the worst year for whooping cough in more than five decades.
There has been a spike in whooping cough cases this year across the country and state, and Douglas County has been no exception.
There have been 10 confirmed cases this year, according to the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, which surpasses last year’s total of nine. All of the 2012 cases have been reported since June.
On Tuesday, the health department was investigating a probable case of whooping cough in a Quail Run School fifth-grade student, and it notified families of students who have been in close contact with the child and may be most susceptible to infection.
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a contagious, bacterial respiratory disease spread by coughing or sneezing in close contact with others. Symptoms include runny nose or congestion, sneezing, cough and fever.
In rare cases, the disease can cause death, especially in children who are 1 or younger.
The health department encourages adults and children to get vaccinated because it is the best protection against the illness. The vaccine is available at the health department’s clinic, 200 Maine.
If you have any questions about vaccination or if you or your child is experiencing pertussis symptoms, contact your physician or the local health department at 843-0721 and ask for a communicable disease nurse.
Tagged: Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, whooping cough, pertussis
Comments
kbritt 9 months ago
According to the Kansas Department of Health Environment, there have been 177 cases of whooping cough in 22 counties. Last year, there were 52 cases.
kbritt 9 months ago
I wanted to add that the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department has "identified" 31 cases since June. They just were not all "confirmed" in a lab.
JayhawkFan1985 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Why are some parents so selfish they don't get their kids vaccinated anymore? The rumors that some vaccines can cause autism have been disproven. Whooping Cough can kill newborns and others with weakened immune systems. This is a disease we almost had wiped out like small pox. Get your kids vaccinated. If you don't, you shouldn't be allowed to enroll in public schools.
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