Schools

Twin Peaks Student Among New Whooping Cough Cases

Health officials announce that countywide totals are now 822 for the year.

The number of confirmed pertussis cases in San Diego County for 2010 rose to 822 this week with the addition of 17 new cases, including one child from . 

According to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, the 12-year-old Twin Peaks student was up-to-date on immunizations.

Cases of pertussis in San Diego County this year have surpassed a previous record of 371 confirmed cases in 2005. Last year, the county had 143 cases of the illness also known as whooping cough. 

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease," said County Deputy Public Health Officer Dean Sidelinger. "Since vaccine effectiveness can fade over time, it is important for adolescents and adults to receive a booster shot, even if they received all of their childhood vaccinations for pertussis. This is especially important for parents and others with regular contact with infants."

A typical case of pertussis in children and adults starts with a cough and runny nose for one to two weeks, followed by weeks to months of rapid coughing fits that sometimes end with a whooping sound. Fever, if present, is usually mild. The disease is treatable with antibiotics.  

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Residents can get vaccinated by visiting their primary care doctor or stopping in a HHSA Public Health Center. The CDC recommends that children get one dose of DTaP vaccine at the following ages: 2 months; 4 months; 6 months; 15 to 18 months and 4 to 6 years. For more information about whooping cough, please call the HHSA Immunization Branch at 866-358-2966, or visit sdiz.org.    


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here