This whooping cough thing is getting out of control, and Columbus Health
Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long wants to stop it before everyone starts serving
pumpkin pie.
Spurred by a spike in cases over the weekend, Long yesterday urged speedy
vaccination of anyone ages 11 to 18 who hasn't had a booster shot to protect
against pertussis, a highly contagious bacterial infection characterized by a
wicked cough that lasts for weeks.
"Please, do not wait," she said.
"We do not want to see the spread of this outbreak any further."
Her message was most pointedly directed at Worthington, where an outbreak
climbed from 29 students on Friday to at least 46 as of yesterday. But Long said
her warning is intended for the entire central Ohio area.
Most of the infected Worthington students are in high school, but some are as
young as sixth grade.
Health officials knew they'd see numbers rise over the weekend, but they are
worried about the spike. They hope a swift response will help stem the spread of
whooping cough over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Two types of booster shot are available, and the cost is about $69. Insurance
typically picks up the bill.
Long said:
• Those who are sick or have been in close contact with sick people should be
treated with antibiotics and vaccinated with a booster shot.
• Anyone who has had a cough for three days should stay at home and see a
doctor.
• Those who are awaiting test results should stay away from school and
extracurricular activities.
• And those who have whooping cough shouldn't return to school until they've
completed five days of antibiotics.
Children are routinely vaccinated against pertussis when they're babies, but
that vaccine wears off with age. The booster shots, which have been available
only for a couple of years, take about two weeks to fully protect against the
disease.
Pertussis causes a severe cough that lasts several weeks. In the worst cases,
thick mucus makes it difficult to eat, drink and breathe. Whooping cough is
particularly risky for infants who have not acquired any immunity and can lead
to hospitalization and, in rare cases, death.
Nobody involved in the Worthington outbreak has been hospitalized, health
officials said.
As of yesterday, 224 laboratory- confirmed cases had been reported in Franklin
County this year. Last year, there were 156. It is common for the disease to
spike one year and dip the next.
A person could have pertussis but be unaware of it for up to 20 days, all the
while spreading it to others, said Dr. Mysheika LeMaile-Williams, the city's
medical director.
Kathy Segal, a nurse with Worthington schools, said she and her colleagues have
been diligent about pulling sick students from classrooms and getting them
tested.
She said parents and students have been respecting recommendations to stay home
from school, and teachers have been working to keep students caught up in the
classroom.
Long stressed that students who are sick must really stay home to avoid
spreading the disease at the mall, the movies or anywhere else.
