Student at Highland Ranch Elementary Reportedly Has Pertussis

Highland Ranch Elementary was one of five schools this past week to report a new case of pertussis in San Diego County, the Health and Human Services Agency reported.

The student is a 4-year-old who was up-to-date on immunizations and attends a preschool at Highland Ranch Elementary School.

A total of six new cases have been reported, with each instance potentially exposing other students and staff, according to County News Center.

The recent cases bring this year’s case total to 35. There were 165 total cases reported in 2012, with 29 cases at this same time last year. There were a record 1,144 cases in 2010.

“This is a reminder that pertussis is always around,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer. “Even though we aren’t seeing the record numbers of recent years, pertussis is still in our community; we encourage parents to make sure their children are up-to-date with their recommended doses of whooping cough vaccine.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children get doses of DTaP vaccine at the following ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months and 4 to 6 years.

Health officials also recommend that preteens and adults get a Tdap booster.

Parents can obtain the vaccine series and the Tdap booster shot for themselves and their children through their primary care physicians. Local retail pharmacies offer vaccinations for a fee, and anyone who is not covered by a medical insurance plan can get the shot from a County Public Health Center at no cost.

A typical case of pertussis starts with a cough and runny nose for one to two weeks, followed by weeks to months of rapid coughing fits that sometimes end with a whooping sound. Fever, if present, is usually mild. The disease is treatable with antibiotics.

—County News Center contributed to this report.