Fw: OT Whooping Cough alert

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Hmmmmm.....isn't this something they vaccinate for?

 

Candace

 

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Friday, July 09, 2004 1:12 PM

Whooping Cough alert

Midwest Whooping Cough Hits More Than 100Whooping Cough Outbreak Sickens More Than 100 in Chicago Area, Three DozeninN. Dakotahttp://abcnews.go.com/wire/Living/ap20040709_597.htmlThe Associated PressSPRINGFIELD, Ill. July 9, 2004 — An ongoing outbreak of whooping cough sinceMarch has sickened more than 100 people in the Chicago area and three dozeninNorth Dakota, officials said. Illinois health officials said 107 cases havebeen confirmed since March in four counties. No deaths have been reported.The outbreak has hit adolescents the hardest, with 80 percent of the casesinvolving 10 to 15 year olds.In North Dakota, health officials are urging parents to vaccinate theirchildren after cases increased sixfold to 36 in the past two weeks.The disease is highly contagious, and symptoms are similar to those of acold, including runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and a cough thatgraduallyworsens. Anyone displaying symptoms of the disease should seek medicalattention to be treated with antibiotics, officials said.The Illinois Department of Public Health plans to send samples of thewhooping cough strain to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forscientific study, Ludicky said.A five-dose vaccine is recommended for children beginning at 2 months ofage.Children should then receive more doses as they grow older.But the vaccine's power wanes with time and can be completely gone 12 yearsafter the final dose, which is usually given between the ages of 4 and 6.Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material maynot be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.