The high level of pertussis (whooping cough) activity in San Diego County continued with another 23 cases reported where the public may have been exposed, according to the County’s Health and Human Services Agency.
The new cases are listed below.
Pertussis cases now total 481 in the region this year. In 2013, there were only 67 reported cases at this point and 431 cases total cases for the year. There was a high of 1,179 cases reported in 2010.
“Pertussis is very active in our community right now,” said Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “It is critical that every pregnant woman get a Tdap shot in the third trimester to be sure that their newborns are protected against pertussis.”
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.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following vaccination schedule:
· Young children need five doses of DTaP by kindergarten: at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months and 4 to 6 years.
· All students entering 7th grade need proof of a whooping cough booster immunization (Tdap).
· A Tdap booster is recommended for pregnant women during their third trimester of each pregnancy, even if they got a booster before becoming pregnant.
· One dose of Tdap is recommended for adults 19 years of age and older who did not get Tdap as an adolescent.
Parents can obtain the DTaP 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 minimal or 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.
All of the new pertussis cases reported at the following locations were up-to-date for their age on immunizations, except where noted:
· A person at Panda Bear Preschool in San Diego
· An 8-year-old at Hannalei Elementary School in the Vista Unified School District
· An 8-year-old at Foothill Oak Elementary School in the Vista Unified School District
· An 8-year-old Bonsall West Elementary School in the Bonsall Unified School District
· An 8-year-old at La Jolla Elementary School in the San Diego Unified School District
· An 8-year-old and a 13-year-old at Pepper Drive School in the Santee School District
· An 11-year-old who was not up-to-date with immunizations at Richland Elementary School in the San Marcos Unified School District
· An 11-year-old who was not up-to-date with immunizations at Calavera Middle School in the Carlsbad Unified School District
· An 11-year-old at Casita Center for Technology, Science & Math in the Vista Unified School District
· An 11-year-old Los Penasquitos Elementary School in the Poway Unified School District
· An 11-year-old who was not up-to-date with immunizations in the Vista Storm Soccer Club
· A 12-year-old at Woodland Park Middle School in the San Marcos Unified School District
· A 12-year-old at Diegueno Middle School in the San Dieguito Union School District
· A 12-year-old who was not up-to-date with immunizations at Step By Step Dance in San Diego
· A 15-year-old who was not up-to-date with immunizations at High Tech High Media Arts in San Diego
· A 15-year-old at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego
· A 15-year-old at Grossmont High School in the Grossmont Union High School District
· A 15-year-old at High Tech High North County in San Marcos
· Two 15-year-olds at Rancho Bernardo High School in the Poway Unified School District
· A 16-year-old at Clairemont High School in the San Diego Unified School District
· A 17-year-old at San Diego High School in the San Diego Unified School District
