Indiana County whooping cough cases prompt vaccination clinic

Dec. 4--A whooping cough outbreak in Indiana County prompted the state Department of Health to host a walk-in vaccination clinic.

The clinic will be open from 2-6 p.m. Thursday at the Indiana County State Health Center, 75 N. Main St., Indiana.

It is in response to an ongoing outbreak in which 45 confirmed or probable cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, have been reported in school districts across that county. An outbreak is defined as a higher-than-normal number of cases, said Nate Wardle, health department spokesman.

"Some of it could be immunization related. Some of it could be the fact that the immunization for pertussis is one that wears off, which is why we recommend you get a booster every 10 years," Wardle said.

So far, the outbreak has been limited to Indiana County. Confirmed or probable cases have also been reported in Allegheny County (35), Westmoreland County (10) and Washington County (12), Wardle said.

Pertussis is a contagious disease of the respiratory system and can be fatal, particularly in infants. It is preventable with a vaccination, and the pertussis vaccine is recommended for children to enter school.

Because immunity from the vaccine fades over time, most adolescents and adults are susceptible to the disease, according to the health department.

In addition to the typical childhood series of pertussis immunizations, the health department recommends the adolescent/adult pertussis vaccine booster -- tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, or Tdap -- for people ages 10-64 who are not fully immunized.

Stephen Huba is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Stephen at 724-850-1280, [email protected] or via Twitter .

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