*more flu/illness updates from Texas
<snipped>
That includes the four deaths at Conroe Regional Medical Center.
At least 14 people have become critically ill in Harris, Montgomery and Jefferson counties, including the four patients at Conroe Regional Medical Center.
One North Texas man died in Euless this month of H1N1 as well
[
link to www.wfaa.com]
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*see how prepared your state is to handle a wide scale outbreak of disease. Map at link showing how each state placed in overall preparedness.
<snipped>
We should probably be a little worried by the results: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most prepared to handle an outbreak, 33 states scored a five or lower.
Trust for America's Health ranked the states by examining things like public health funding available in each state, lab capabilities for tracking outbreaks in each state, and the number of vaccines for preventable diseases each state gives. You can see where each state ranked on the map
Read more: [
link to www.businessinsider.com]
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*whooping cough cases are beginning to surface
<snipped>
CORPUS CHRISTI - An infant undergoing treatment for
Whooping Cough, otherwise known as Pertussis, has died, according to the City-County Health Department.
There have been 16 recorded cases of Whooping Cough in Nueces County this year. That's three more recorded cases than last year
[
link to www.kristv.com]
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*southern california - outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis) - warnings issues from school officials. Large amount of information at link with a complete list of schools that the warnings were issued from.
<snipped>
A higher-than-average, Santa Clarita Valley-wide prevalence of whooping cough diagnoses, including one this week at Valencia High, has health and school officials reiterating the importance of vaccinations.
Dr. Rochelle Feldman of Prima Pediatrics, who sits on the advisory board for Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health, offered two pieces of advice for those concerned about the easily spread illness.
(note: this next section is part of the Q&A toward bottom of link)
How do you get whooping cough? Anyone who is exposed to a coughing person with whooping cough in the infectious stage can get the disease. The pertussis vaccine usually prevents disease in infants and children, but even a vaccinated person can sometimes get whooping cough.
Whooping cough can occur in older children and adults because protection from the vaccine (DTP or DTaP) received during childhood lasts only 5 to 10 years. Only recently has a pertussis vaccine become available for preteens, teens, and adults.
How is whooping cough spread? Whooping cough is spread when germs pass from an infected person to others through coughing or sneezing. Many infants who get whooping cough catch it from their older siblings (brothers or sisters), or from their parent(s) or guardian(s) who might not know that they have the disease.
How do you know if you have whooping cough? Whooping cough begins like a mild cold with a runny nose, sneezing, fever, and cough. After one or two weeks, the coughing spells get worse. Whooping cough can last for weeks and may lead to lung infection, rib fractures, seizures, brain damage, or death, especially in infants under one year of age.
[
link to scvnews.com]
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more whooping cough/pertussis - Tuscon, Arizona. Does anyone think it's coincidence that all of our southern states are having these outbreaks?
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Whooping cough cases are at an
eight-year high in Pima County, and the Vail area southeast of Tucson continues to suffer the deepest consequences of the ongoing problem.
[
link to azstarnet.com]
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for those that have never heard what it sounds like when a baby has pertussis..... here's a vid. One of the most horrid sounds in the world....
[
link to www.youtube.com]
