Panhandle Health District

                                                             8500 N. Atlas Road         Hayden, Idaho  83835

www.phd1.idaho.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      Date:     January 22, 2010                       

Contact:                                                                             Released by: Jeanne Bock, Director                     

Cynthia Taggart

Public Information Officer

(208) 415-5108

(208) 818-7288 (cell)

Whooping Cough Circulating in Kootenai County

Hayden—Although H1N1 influenza has quieted in northern Idaho, a cough still is circulating and people need to be aware that it may be pertussis—whooping cough.

              Since mid December, 15 cases of pertussis have been confirmed in the Rathdrum, Athol and Post Falls areas of Kootenai County. In 2009, only six cases of pertussis were reported in all five counties. Pertussis is among the diseases childhood vaccinations help prevent.

              Pertussis is a highly contagious illness recognized by severe coughing spells that can cause vomiting and lack of breath. Untreated, pertussis can develop into pneumonia, seizures, encephalitis and, in babies under a year old, can lead to death.

              “People are not aware pertussis is out there and need to recognize that the lasting cough they have or their children may have may not be bronchitis or the flu or an allergy,” said Randi Lustig, epidemiology program manager for the Panhandle Health District. “If the cough is getting worse and lasting longer than two weeks, they should contact a doctor.”

              Pertussis is particularly dangerous for children younger than 6 months old. Most pertussis deaths occur in unvaccinated children or in children too young to be vaccinated.

              Schools and area physicians have been alerted that pertussis is circulating. Pertussis typically starts with a runny nose, but a cough quickly takes over. People with pertussis are contagious for up to three weeks. Doctor-prescribed antibiotics can kill the infection and prevent it from spreading.

              Children diagnosed with pertussis need to stay home from school until they have completed five days of antibiotic treatment.

              A pertussis booster vaccination is available at PHD for anyone age 11 or older. The pertussis vaccine helps prevent serious symptoms but doesn’t guarantee protection from a lesser degree of infection.

              For information on pertussis, visit the PHD website at www.phd1.idaho.gov.