Originally published October 14 2005
Whooping cough outbreak develops at Illinois school
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Kitty Loewy, a spokeswoman for the Cook County Department of Public Health, confirmed that five cases of whooping cough had been identified at Central School in Glencoe.
A minor outbreak of whooping cough at Central School put parents and administrators on alert last week as the illness, while typically not life-threatening, is highly contagious.
School officials said Tuesday five cases have been confirmed -- four eighth-grade students and a Central School teacher -- of whooping cough or pertussis, which is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis that live in the mouth, nose and throat.
Cathlene Crawford said the school was notified by the affected students' parents.
"We could have had the same thing last year and not have known it," she said.
"We have to rely on parents telling us their child has it, so we can inform other students."
Kitty Loewy, a spokeswoman for the Cook County Department of Public Health, said cases of whooping cough are not uncommon and recommended anyone who experiences symptoms -- sneezing, runny nose and a cough that lasts at least one week -- seek a physician's advice.
In children, the cough can turn violent and cause difficulty breathing.
"Whooping cough is not as uncommon as people may think," said Loewy.
It causes about 10 to 15 U.S. deaths per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
In 2004, a major whooping cough outbreak, with at least 545 cases statewide by the end of September, spanned several counties including Cook and Lake in the Chicago region.
Last year's outbreak was the highest since 1967, two years before the state began requiring immunization against it for school children.
Whooping cough can be prevented through a DTaP vaccination, typically administered to infants along with diphtheria and tetanus shots.
The Federal Drug Administration has approved two different whooping cough Injections for persons ages 10 and higher, according to the county health department.
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