Public Information Office 210 S. McDonald Street Suite 626 McKinney, Texas 75069 www.collincountytx.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 3, 2006

Collin County Health Care Services reports four confirmed cases of whooping cough among children in a Plano school

(McKinney, TX) – Collin County Health Care Services is monitoring four laboratory-confirmed cases of whooping cough among elementary students in one Plano school. Whooping cough, which is referred to as pertussis in the medical community, is a highly communicable, vaccine-preventable disease that is typically manifested in children. Symptoms include severe coughing, whooping and vomiting.

The four children are students at Centennial Elementary School in Plano. School officials have been aggressive in notifying parents; and the Plano cases appear to be contained to that school. Two children at a separate school district have remained home to prevent the possible spread. None of the children are hospitalized; and all appeared to have been vaccinated. Therefore, their symptoms are not as strong as they could be. Nevertheless, this serves as a reminder to parents of infants to keep babies away from children and adults with severe coughing symptoms

“Infants do not receive their Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTP) vaccines until they are two months of age,” says Collin County nurse epidemiologist Janet Glowicz. “These young babies are the most susceptible to this contagious disease. Elderly people can also be vulnerable to infection.”

Coughing spells associated with pertussis can be so bad, that it interferes with daily activities. It can also lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and death. Only people who have symptoms, such as a cough, are contagious.

“What makes this most recent round of cases unusual is that they have occurred in children in the five to nine age group,” says Glowicz. “These children are fully vaccinated, but vaccine-induced immunity is not 100 percent protective.”

A case is confirmed after an individual coughs for at least 14 days a nd a test or a culture is positive.

Because there has been a rise in pertussis nationally, a vaccination booster has been licensed for people over the age of 11. The vaccine is recommended for adolescents, small children and women who deliver a baby. Women can receive a post-partum booster while in the hospital.

The disease is not new to Collin County. At least 75 cases of Whooping Cough were confirmed last year and at least 13 cases have been confirmed so far this year.

Detailed information regarding pertussis can be found at www.cdc.gov.

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