MODESTO BEE
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

By KEN CARLSON
BEE STAFF WRITER

Last Updated: November 11, 2005, 04:47:30 AM PST

An outbreak of whooping cough continues to worry parents and health officials in Stanislaus County, with a recent surge in cases reported in Turlock schools.

The Turlock Unified School District sent letters home to parents of its nearly 14,000 students last week, saying several students had been diagnosed with pertussis — the medical name for whooping cough.

The highly contagious illness, characterized by a cough lasting more than two weeks, can be fatal in children and also is infecting adults. Germs are simply spread by coughing.

The county Health Services Agency has recorded 63 cases this year, including 18 in October. Of last month's cases, 11 were in Turlock. Two more Turlock school children were confirmed to have pertussis this week.

Five cases have been confirmed at Julien Elementary School and one each at Osborn, Dennis Earl and Dutcher schools.

The majority of infected students have been fifth and sixth-graders, and three sixth-graders who attended camp last month came down with the illness, said Bonnie Folkes, a lead nurse for Turlock Unified.

"We are doing what we can to work with the cases as they become known to us," said Gil Ogden, coordinator of pupil services for Turlock Unified.

Public health officials contacted the parents to ensure the children were treated with antibiotics. In addition, parents who have children in those classrooms were notified of the possible exposure after the first cases appeared.

The illness, caused by a bacter-ial infection, is characterized by coughing spells lasting several seconds. The coughing fits are followed by a "whooping" sound as the person struggles to inhale and may cause vomiting or choking.

Whooping cough can last for weeks and lead to pneumonia and seizures. It is most dangerous in infants and young children.

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