Whooping Cough Case Reported at Meadowbrook Middle School

A whooping cough case at Meadowbrook Middle School was reported Wednesday.

According to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, a 13-year-old student is among the eight new cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, in the region confirmed this week.

The new cases are a reminder that parents need to ensure their children are vaccinated, said the county's public health officer, Wilma Wooten.

“Parents can get ahead of the new school law which requires proof of a pertussis booster for students entering middle and high school in the fall,” she said. “Before school starts, parents should check with primary care doctors to be sure their children are up-to-date with their pertussis vaccinations.”

The student was up to date on immunizations but pertussis vaccines are only 80 percent effective though symptoms are less severe for those who become vaccinated, according to the health department.

San Diego County residents who do not have a health care provider can receive their vaccinations at the county's public health center. The pertussis boosters are recommended for everyone 10 years and older and are required for all students grades 7 through 12 beginning July 1.

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. If diagnosed early, the disease can be treated with antibiotics. But a delay in treatment can result in a three- to four-month illness.

As of Wednesday, a total of 252 cases have been reported in the region this year. In 2010, 1,144 cases were reported, including two infant deaths.