Health

Pertussis Cases Show No Sign of Declining

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The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency confirmed 26 new cases of pertussis last week and has identified 14 locations in the county where others may have been exposed to the disease.

Details of possible public exposures are listed below.

The number of cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, reported in the county now stands at 16 for 2014 and 414 for 2013. Cases are reported from the date of symptom onset, so several of the newly confirmed cases have increased the count for 2013. There were 165 cases reported in 2012 and a recent high of 1,179 cases in 2010.

“We are continuing to see a high level of pertussis activity in San Diego County,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “This is one of the highest levels we’ve seen in recent years.”

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 end with a whooping sound. Fever, if present, is usually mild. Antibiotics can lessen the severity of symptoms and prevent the spread of disease to others. Deaths can result as a complication of pertussis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children get doses of DTaP vaccine at the following ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years. Health officials also recommend that preteens and adults get a Tdap booster. Infants younger than 1 year old are especially vulnerable because they do not have the full five-dose series of pertussis vaccinations.

Parents can obtain the vaccine series and the Tdap booster shot for themselves and their children through their primary care physicians. Local retail pharmacies offer vaccinations for a fee, and anyone who is not covered by a medical insurance plan can get the shot from a County Public Health Center at no cost.

For more information about whooping cough and ongoing vaccination clinics, call the HHSA Immunization Branch at (866) 358-2966, or visit www.sdiz.org.

The new pertussis cases reported at the following locations were up-to-date for their age on immunizations, with one exception as noted:

·         A 3-year-old at The Kids Bay Learning Center in Carmel Valley.

·         A 4-year-old at Whitman Elementary School in the San Diego Unified School District.

·         A 6-year-old at Oak Hill Elementary School in the Escondido Union School District.

·         A 7-year-old at The Children’s School in La Jolla.

·         A 7-year-old at Magnolia Elementary School Carlsbad Unified School District.

·         An 8-year-old at Warren-Walker School in La Mesa.

·         An 11-year-old at San Marcos Middle School in the San Marcos Unified School District.

·         An 11-year-old at Alcott Elementary School in the San Diego Unified School District.

·         A 12-year-old who was not up-to-date on immunizations at Twin Peaks Middle School in the Poway Unified School District.

·         A 15-year-old at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla.

·         A 17-year-old at Helix Charter High School in the Grossmont Union High School District.

·         A 17-year-old at Westview High School in the Poway Unified School District.

·         Two individuals at North Coast Church Little Coasters Weekend Ministry in Vista.

·         Two individuals at 24-Hour Fitness Day Care at 4655 Frazee Road in Oceanside.

 

Tom Christensen is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact