Whooping Cough Reported at Two Local Schools
Two students were diagnosed with whooping cough, also known as pertussis, a respiratory disease that can spread easily in public settings, according to the County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).
The new whooping cough cases bring San Diego’s total to the 100 mark so far this year. Last year, a total of 400 pertussis cases were reported in the county.
The cases include: A 15-year-old who attends Canyon Crest Academy in the San Dieguito Union High School District and a 10-year-old who attends Sage Canyon Elementary School in the Del Mar Union School District. Both were up-to-date with vaccinations.
“Vaccinations are the best protection against this highly contagious disease,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., public health officer for the County. “Vaccinated people who contract the disease have milder symptoms than those who are not vaccinated.”
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.
The ultimate goal is to prevent deaths that can result as a complication of pertussis. Infants under one year old are especially vulnerable.
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.
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. The disease is treatable with antibiotics.
For more information about whooping cough and ongoing vaccination clinics, call the HHSA Immunization Branch at (866) 358-2966, or visit www.sdiz.org.