Whooping Cough Outbreak
Sonora, CA — Tuolumne County Health Officials are investigating local cases of Whooping Cough or pertussis. One case of pertussis was confirmed at Summerville Elementary School yesterday afternoon.
Tuolumne County Health Officer, Dr. Todd Stolp says that as of today, “At least three of four [schools] have had students with symptoms that are suspected of being pertussis, but as far as confirmed cases, they have only touch on two schools.”
Stolp declined to name the other school citing parents of all the schools are being notified of the outbreak. He says parents are being asked to check their children’s vaccination history and make sure their shots are up to date. Health Officials say all students should receive four doses of “DTaP” vaccine before two years of age, a booster dose before kindergarten and another booster “Tdap” vaccine before 7th grade.
Those at greatest risk of pertussis are infants under one year of age, pregnant mothers, and children with chronic respiratory illness like asthma or cystic fibrosis.
