(Mason City) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced last week that pertussis (whooping cough) is causing the worst epidemic seen in the United States in more than 50 years. The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health is urging residents of the county to take this seriously and everyone, including adults need to be vaccinated against the disease.
“In Cerro Gordo County, we have had 108 cases of pertussis reported, which is 13.7% of the State’s total cases,” said Karen Crimmings, Disease Prevention and Investigation Service Manager at the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health.
According to the CDC, people who are not vaccinated have eight times the risk of infection compared to people who are fully vaccinated against pertussis. If someone who has been vaccinated does get pertussis, the disease is usually less serious and they’re far less likely to spread the virus to someone else.
“We are still getting cases of pertussis reported to the Health Department,” explains Crimmings. “It is very important that parents ensure their child(ren) are up-to-date on their pertussis vaccine before starting the 2012 – 2013 school year. Otherwise, the outbreak may pick up speed again when children reconvene at school this fall. It’s just important that adults receive pertussis-containing vaccine (Tdap) because they can spread the disease to infants who are too young to be immunized. In infants, pertussis can be severe and even deadly.”
The most common symptoms of pertussis in children are fits of coughing, followed by vomiting, a ‘whooping’ sound as air is inhaled, and difficulty sleeping. In adults, however, only a lingering cough that can last for weeks is often seen. This is why many adults do not realize they have pertussis. While treatment with antibiotics will prevent an individual from spreading the disease further after being diagnosed with pertussis, the cough may continue to last for weeks.
Individuals in need of the pertussis vaccine can receive it at their local health care provider or at the Health Department. The Health Department’s Immunization Clinic is open Monday -Friday from 10:00 AM –Noon and 12:30 – 4:00 PM.
For more information on pertussis and the pertussis vaccine, visit www.cghealth.com or please call (641) 421-9321.
