Pertussis Outbreak here in Cincinnati

[Guest guest]

Whooping cough cases up

Students being sent home

By Kranz • ckranz@... • December 14, 2008

Starting Monday, burg School District will send home any

elementary student who appears to have pertussis, commonly known as

whooping cough.

The student won't be allowed to return until parents provide a letter

from the child's doctor stating a diagnosis.

It's part of an effort to try to rid the schools of the highly

contagious disease.

Since Oct. 22, the Clermont County district knows of 25 reported

cases of whooping cough in its schools - 22 elementary students, two

middle school students and one substitute teacher.

Whooping cough is emerging in Greater Cincinnati and Northern

Kentucky as part of periodic spikes, often occurring when the

pertussis vaccination wanes.

" This is not unusual, " said Clermont County Health Commissioner Marty

Lambert. " If you look at national statistics, you usually see a

little blip about every four years. This is our blip year. "

Clermont County has been hit especially hard. The health district has

received 47 reports of whooping cough since October. That compares

with 18 cases reported last year. Most are children between the ages

of 7 and 11.

The Hamilton County Public Health Department has seen two or three

cases a week since October, spokeswoman Hummel said, but no one

school has had a significant amount.

Cincinnati Health Department has logged 17 cases this year, 14 since

September, said Rocky Merz, public information officer. Those numbers

include students from Cincinnati Public Schools and parochial schools.

That's the normal range of annual cases, Merz said. Fifteen cases

were reported in 2007, 15 in 2006 and 42 for 2005.

Warren County Health Commissioner Duane Stansbury said his department

has reports of 10 cases - five at Berry Intermediate School in

Lebanon, one at Lebanon High School, two at Little Miami, one at

Mason High School and one at Mason Early Childhood Center.

Information about County wasn't available.

The Northern Kentucky Health Department has received reports of 15

cases in Boone, and Kenton counties since Sept. 1.

" All of those cases are people who had been vaccinated that are older

than 11 or so, " said Gresham, public information manager. " The

vaccine seems to be wearing off. "

All schools with reported cases are notifying parents with letters or

automated phone calls.

At burg, Superintendent Jeff Weir said follow-up has included

isolating each case for five days of antibiotic treatment, and

identifying close classroom contacts and seatmates in order to

recommend preventative treatment for them.

It also includes preventative treatment for classrooms or groups of

students when two or more cases have arisen within them, which has

happened three times, Weir said, adding that the district has worked

closely with the county health district.

" At this point, we feel a more assertive strategy is prudent to limit

the continuation of this outbreak, " Weir said.

The letters were sent home this week, informing parents of the new

strategy. If whooping cough is suspected, the child will be kept from

school until completion of five days of the recommended antibiotic

treatment.

Reporters D. and Croyle contributed to this

story.

[Guest guest]

Whooping cough cases up

Students being sent home

By Kranz • ckranz@... • December 14, 2008

Starting Monday, burg School District will send home any

elementary student who appears to have pertussis, commonly known as

whooping cough.

The student won't be allowed to return until parents provide a letter

from the child's doctor stating a diagnosis.

It's part of an effort to try to rid the schools of the highly

contagious disease.

Since Oct. 22, the Clermont County district knows of 25 reported

cases of whooping cough in its schools - 22 elementary students, two

middle school students and one substitute teacher.

Whooping cough is emerging in Greater Cincinnati and Northern

Kentucky as part of periodic spikes, often occurring when the

pertussis vaccination wanes.

" This is not unusual, " said Clermont County Health Commissioner Marty

Lambert. " If you look at national statistics, you usually see a

little blip about every four years. This is our blip year. "

Clermont County has been hit especially hard. The health district has

received 47 reports of whooping cough since October. That compares

with 18 cases reported last year. Most are children between the ages

of 7 and 11.

The Hamilton County Public Health Department has seen two or three

cases a week since October, spokeswoman Hummel said, but no one

school has had a significant amount.

Cincinnati Health Department has logged 17 cases this year, 14 since

September, said Rocky Merz, public information officer. Those numbers

include students from Cincinnati Public Schools and parochial schools.

That's the normal range of annual cases, Merz said. Fifteen cases

were reported in 2007, 15 in 2006 and 42 for 2005.

Warren County Health Commissioner Duane Stansbury said his department

has reports of 10 cases - five at Berry Intermediate School in

Lebanon, one at Lebanon High School, two at Little Miami, one at

Mason High School and one at Mason Early Childhood Center.

Information about County wasn't available.

The Northern Kentucky Health Department has received reports of 15

cases in Boone, and Kenton counties since Sept. 1.

" All of those cases are people who had been vaccinated that are older

than 11 or so, " said Gresham, public information manager. " The

vaccine seems to be wearing off. "

All schools with reported cases are notifying parents with letters or

automated phone calls.

At burg, Superintendent Jeff Weir said follow-up has included

isolating each case for five days of antibiotic treatment, and

identifying close classroom contacts and seatmates in order to

recommend preventative treatment for them.

It also includes preventative treatment for classrooms or groups of

students when two or more cases have arisen within them, which has

happened three times, Weir said, adding that the district has worked

closely with the county health district.

" At this point, we feel a more assertive strategy is prudent to limit

the continuation of this outbreak, " Weir said.

The letters were sent home this week, informing parents of the new

strategy. If whooping cough is suspected, the child will be kept from

school until completion of five days of the recommended antibiotic

treatment.

Reporters D. and Croyle contributed to this

story.