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Whooping Cough Cases Prompt Vaccination Alert

Two cases of cases of Whooping cough were reported last week in East Gippsland.

By East Gippsland Shire Council - 3rd March 2006 - Back to News

Two cases of Whooping cough reported last week have prompted East Gippsland Shire Council and the East Gippsland Division of General Practice to alert parents and all adults to the need for vaccination of infants and themselves as quickly as possible.

Shire Immunisation Coordinator Vicki Wall said the two Gippsland cases had been reported to the Department of Human Services Infectious Diseases Surveillance Unit.

"It is a reminder that the disease is ‘out there’ and that parents of infants should not delay their children’s immunisations," Ms Wall said.

"They should also seek further information from their doctors regarding immunisations for themselves and older family members," she added.

Ms Wall said all babies could receive free vaccinations against Whooping Cough at two, four and six months of age with a booster dose given at four years of age.

"Also, all 15 year old’s are eligible to receive a free Whooping cough booster through the school immunisation program that is conducted by the Shire," she said.

Bairsndale General Practitioner Dr Myles Chapman and Sale Pediatrician Dr Peter Goss have both raised concerns over the high incidence of Whooping cough in the Gippsland Region.

"Whooping cough - also called Pertussis - is a highly contagious disease, preventable through immunisation," Dr Chapman said.

"This disease affects the air passages and breathing and causes severe coughing spasms."

Dr Chapman said Whooping cough is most serious for babies under 12 months of age and often requires admission to hospital.

"The complications from this disease can include convulsions, pneumonia, coma, permanent brain damage and long term lung damage," he said.

"Around one in every 200 children under 6 months of age who catch Whooping cough will die."

Dr Peter Goss said that Whooping cough can be caught from an infected person who is coughing and sneezing and quite often it is an adult who spreads the infection to the baby.

"Adults need to be aware that immunity to Whooping Cough wears off over a period of years, so even though most adults have been immunised against Whooping Cough as children, they have little immunity left as an adult.

"This makes them susceptible to the disease and carriers for unprotected infants."

Vicki Wall said that it was vital that all babies and children were immunised according to the Victorian Immunisation Schedule,

"Babies must complete three doses of a Whooping cough containing vaccine to have adequate protection from the disease and this means ensuring babies are immunised on time."

Dr Chapman also advised all parents and grandparents who have contact with babies and young children to be immunised against Whooping cough.

"A vaccine is available that provides a booster dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus and Whooping cough and this will provide adequate protection against contracting these diseases," he said.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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