Whooping cough found in Blaine County

Following the diagnosis of whooping cough, or pertussis, in Big Sandy, Blaine County Health Department has announced the highly contagious respiratory disease has been diagnosed in that county as well.

The health department issued a release saying three cases of pertussis were diagnosed there.

Blaine County Health Supervisor Jana McPherson-Hauer said the three cases were of various ages and some of the infected have been vaccinated for the disease, but not all

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that vaccination is the best protection for the disease.

While the vaccination does not guarantee the person vaccinated will not get the disease, they generally have a milder case if infected.

Blaine County Health Department’s release said it is investigating who may have been in contact with the people infected.

“I feel confident in taking the steps we need to take to treat this as a health care facility,” McPherson-Hauer said.

Hill County Health Department reported no cases have been diagnosed in Hill County at this point.

The Chouteau County Health Department said the person from Big Sandy diagnosed was an infant who had not been vaccinated. The family had taken the child to a location outside of Big Sandy and the infected child is being treated.

Treatment, generally with antibiotics, helps reduce the seriousness of the infection and helps prevent its spread.

The Chouteau County Health Department letter said the department was working to identify close contacts with the infected infant and ensure their evaluation and treatment. Unvaccinated close contacts or close contacts with symptoms need to be treated in order to lessen further spread of the disease.

“Although pertussis is a contagious disease that is spread through the air by coughing or sneezing, transmission is dependent on the closeness and length of contact,” the letter said. “Mass treatment is not recommended or indicated at this time.”

People with symptoms are urged to see their health care provider as soon as possible.

Pertussis begins with cold symptoms and a cough, which becomes much worse over one to two weeks. Symptoms usually include a long series of coughs — a coughing fit — after which the person needs to take deep breaths, often causing a “whooping” sound to occur. However, older children, adults and very young infants may not develop the whoop. The disease generally does not cause a fever.

People with pertussis may have a series of coughs followed by vomiting, turning blue, or difficulty catching breath. The cough is often worse at night and cough medicines usually do not help alleviate the cough.

Pertussis can be very dangerous for infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies younger than 1 year old. Infants younger than 1, and particularly younger than 6 months, are most likely to experience severe illness if they develop pertussis, the letter said. Infants should be kept away from people who may have been exposed to pertussis. Infants with any coughing illness should be taken to the doctor quickly.

The most effective way to prevent pertussis is through vaccination, the letter said. Pertussis vaccine is available for persons older than 6 weeks, and is included in the CDC’s recommended routine childhood immunization schedule.

“It is important to know that no vaccine is 100 percent effective and no community is 100 percent vaccinated,” the letter said. “However, we do know that vaccines are the most effective tool we have to reduce transmission of pertussis and that even immunized children who get sick tend to have less severe symptoms than children who are not immunized.”

More about pertussis can be found on the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/.