Whooping Cough Continues To Spread Infant’s Death Was Due To Pertussis, Officials Confirm

Public health nurses continued to find more cases of pertussis in Kootenai County Thursday, bringing the total to 16.

Health officials also confirmed that the official cause of death was pertussis in a 2-month-old Post Falls boy who died March 28 in an in-home day care.

Hundreds of children have been tested since last week, when health officials were informed that pertussis may have been involved in his death.

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, has been found in day cares in Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene and Wallace, and elementary schools in Post Falls and Hayden.

A recent survey by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention placed Idaho in last place in vaccination rate rankings. Idaho’s immunization rate is 66 percent, while the national average is 76 percent.

In North Idaho, the immunization rate is 61.2 percent for 2-year-olds.

At least 90 percent is needed to create “herd immunity” and prevent outbreaks.

“If we had herd immunity in the community, the baby most likely would not have been exposed to the deadly bacteria,” said Jeanne Bock, director of family health at the Panhandle Health Department.

The infant was just days away from his first immunization appointment when he died.

Even if children are immunized, they are not completely protected from pertussis. The vaccine works in only 70 percent to 90 percent of those immunized.

In fact, some of the children with pertussis in Kootenai County are up to date with their shots, but health officials aren’t sure how many.

They stress that immunized children will not get as sick if they do catch pertussis as they would if they’re not vaccinated.

In Shoshone County, the two known pertussis victims are toddlers. One attended the Silver Valley High School Day Care Center in Wallace.

A 7-month-old boy who also attended the day care died earlier this week, prompting rumors that he could be another pertussis casualty.

But Shoshone County Coroner Lonny Duce said initial tests for pertussis came back negative. More tests are under way.

“We’re still searching,” Duce said. “But this baby had quite a few medical problems.”

Shelley Ahrend, a public health nurse in the Silver Valley and the Wallace School District nurse, said the district and health officials have been working diligently to reach all the known contacts of the two toddlers who did test positive.

Contacts are advised to take preventive antibiotics and, if they have symptoms, be tested.

In Kootenai County, the latest cases include another Ponderosa Elementary student, a Hayden Lake Elementary student and a 5-month-old girl who had contact with one of the other cases.

The Panhandle Health District will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today to continue testing people who may have been exposed to the disease and are showing symptoms.

People who have been notified by their school, day care or the health district that they were exposed, and have any of the symptoms of pertussis, are asked to contact their doctor or visit the health district office at 2195 Ironwood Court.

The symptoms are red, watery eyes, coughing, runny nose or a scratchy throat.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Susan Drumheller Staff writer The Associated Press contributed to this report.