The whooping cough outbreak in Pasadena schools continued Tuesday with the announcement of three more cases, this time at Blair Middle School.
The city’s Public Health Department is working with the Pasadena Unified School District and others to monitor for additional infections and to guide response efforts, according to the City Manager’s office.
Public Health has notified close contacts and provided instructions for testing, treatment when appropriate and staying home if symptoms develop, officials said.
The Health Department on April 29 reported that four people contracted pertussis, the scientific name for whooping cough, at Don Benito Fundamental School.
In both announcements, city officials said whooping cough has been increasing in the community, prompting health officials to urge residents to make sure they are up to date on vaccinations.
“We urge parents to be vigilant for changes in their child’s health,” Health Officer Dr. Parveen Kaur said in a statement. “Abnormal coughs and other symptoms consistent with pertussis should be evaluated by a physician. Pertussis is deadly for high-risk groups. In addition to vaccination, proper testing and treatment is a vital measure to protect our families and community members.”
The Health Department recommended that anyone who develops a persistent cough or other respiratory symptoms contact a medical care provider and that people stay at home when ill to reduce the likelihood of transmission. Officials advised parents to keep children exhibiting symptoms out of school and seek a health care professional’s evaluation if needed.
Whooping cough spreads via respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or has close contact with other people, according to the city.
Symptoms typically appear five to 21 days after exposure. Early symptoms often resemble a mild cold, including a runny nose, sneezing, low- grade fever, and a mild cough.
The illness can progress to severe coughing fits that may cause vomiting, difficulty breathing or a telltale “whooping” sound. Infants may not develop a typical cough and instead may show signs such as gagging, changes in skin color or brief pauses in breathing, officials said.
Individuals who have been exposed should monitor for symptoms for up to 21 days and contact a health care provider if illness develops, according to the Public Health Department. Those diagnosed are generally advised to remain home until they have completed a minimum of five days of treatment with an appropriate antibiotic.
Sometimes preventive antibiotics may be the recommendation for high-risk individuals, such as infants or those who are pregnant or caregivers of young children.
Public Health emphasized vaccination as the most effective protection against whooping cough and the ailment’s possible complications. Health officials recommended that children be up to date on the DTaP series — diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Adolescents should receive the Tdap booster, with adults also maintaining current vaccination status, particularly those in close contact with infants and pregnant women, officials said.
Clinicians were asked to follow established guidelines for testing and treatment of suspected pertussis cases, and stay-home-from-school policies apply to students meeting the criteria for confirmed or suspected infections, according to the City Manager’s Office.
The city’s Public Health Department offers the Tdap vaccine on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m., by appointment or walk-ins.
The Vaccines for Children program offers vaccines to children whose parents or guardians may not be able to afford them.
