Whooping Cough Hits Pennsylvania School

Recently, another student has reportedly come down with pertussis, also known as whooping cough, at a Montgomery County school in Pennsylvania.  The school sent letters home to parents notifying them of the disease and parents have been encouraged to monitor their children for any signs of the illness.

Pertussis is a respiratory illness and is a very contagious disease caused by a type of bacteria known as Bordetella pertussis.   Pertussis is a transmittable disease and is spread from person to person. It is spread by airborne droplets, when people with pertussis cough or sneeze while in close contact with others that can breathe in the bacteria.

“When people inhale the bacteria it attaches to the cilia that line part of the upper respiratory system,” reported Susan White, Ph.D., CMC, President of Sussex Environmental Health Consultants (SEHC), a leading Mid-Atlantic indoor air quality (IAQ) and infection control consulting firm.   “The bacteria release toxins, which damage the cilia and cause inflammation.  It’s important to keep sick students away from others to prevent its spread.  As with most infectious organisms, thorough cleaning and sanitation procedures can help prevent outbreaks,” she continued.

Humans appear to be the only hosts of Bordetella pertussis.  In 2010, over 27,000 cases of pertussis were reported in the U.S., but many more cases likely go undiagnosed and unreported.   Since the 1980s, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of pertussis in the U.S., especially among 10-19 year olds and infants younger than 6 months of age.  Symptoms of pertussis usually develop within 7–10 days after exposure, but sometimes takes as long as 6 weeks.

SEHC recently sponsored a public outreach video about whooping cough and Bordetella pertussis that can be seen at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RogpNWYeSQs

To learn more about preventing infectious microbial pathogens, or other environmental and indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, please visit http://www.sussexenvironmental.com, email susan.white@mchsi.com or call (302) 947-1810.

About Sussex Environmental Health Consultants, LLC

SEHC is a certified woman owned business that provides environmental and health and safety consulting services.  The company is located in the Mid-Atlantic and services customers nationwide.  SEHC provides solutions to clients ranging from homeowners to international Fortune 500 corporations.