Official encourage whooping cough booster shots

 

The number of those diagnosed with whooping cough in Worthington schools continues to increase, but officials are hoping to prevent more cases as the district and Columbus health officials launch an immunization plan.

As of Monday, Nov. 12, there were 55 confirmed cases of whooping cough. Thirty-eight of those were at Thomas Worthington High School, Worthington Kilbourne High School had 11 and the rest were scattered throughout the district, said nurse Kathryn Segal.

Assistant Superintendent Paul Cynkar said the district is collaborating with the Columbus Public Health Department, Nationwide Children's Hospital, CVS Pharmacy and Westerville Family Physicians to organize immunization clinics at both high schools.

"Over 333 staff members have signed up to get a booster, and more than 200 students," he said. "Our collaboration with these agencies has helped us fight this outbreak and get through this crisis."

Segal said 123 students received booster shots Friday, Nov. 9, and staff clinics were held the following Monday, Nov. 12 and Tuesday, Nov. 13. More staff were expected to receive immunizations today, Nov. 14.

Columbus Public Health officials "strongly urged" all parents to protect their children ages 11-18 by making sure they receive the pertussis booster shot "Adecel or Boostrix."

Health Commissioner Teresa Long said the two booster vaccines have become available in the last two years, and many adolescents have not been vaccinated.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, begins with cold-like symptoms, then proceeds to a severe, constant cough that can end with a loud gasp, or "whoop," especially in younger children, according to public health officials. There usually is little to no fever, officials said.

Health officials said students with a persistent cough longer than three days should seek medical care, stay home from school and be checked for pertussis.

Students diagnosed with the disease must be excluded from school and co-curricular participation until completing five days of the antibiotic treatment, officials said.

Parents should watch their children for symptoms, and if a cough is persistent, they should make sure children see a physician, Segal said.

"If someone has been exposed to pertussis, they should stay away from infants and small children as a precaution, because the disease can be very dangerous to babies under a year old," she said.

"Some babies may not have had enough of the pertussis vaccine to protect them."

Columbus Public Health also is recommending people in close contact with pertussis patients ask their doctors for an antibiotic to prevent the disease.

Segal is hoping the outbreak is slowing down.

"We didn't get a big jump over the weekend; we had less than 10 new cases," she said. "Last weekend, there were 17 new cases. I think we are probably through the peak."

"Certainly, with the volume of people getting immunized, we should see the end of this soon. I've had exceptional response with parents getting their kids to their family physicians," Segal said.

She said the new boosters that became available in the last couple of years are more effective than the old ones.

"The immunization most children got in kindergarten is probably wearing off," Segal said. "The new booster vaccine is better at preventing pertussis."

Segal said she has seen "more and more pertussis" in the past few years.

"We used to have just an isolated case here and there -- nothing like this year," she said.

"We are asking all of our staff members to remind students to wash their hands, cover their coughs and not share drinks."

Pertussis has a 9- to 21-day incubation period, Segal said, which means closing a school "is not an effective way to control it."

"If you close the school and kids don't stay home, but get out into the community, they further spread the disease," she said.

"Our biggest concern is getting everyone immunized and the outbreak controlled before Thanksgiving break, when kids will be out of school and perhaps in other communities."