Outbreak of whooping cough at Barrenjoey High on Sydney’s northern beaches
A case of whooping cough has been reported at a Sydney school in an area where the childhood vaccination rate is the second lowest in the country.
Manly
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A CASE of whooping cough has been identified on the northern beaches in an area where the childhood vaccination rate is the second lowest in the country.
Barrenjoey High in Avalon sent out a message to parents on Wednesday warning them that someone in the school community had the disease.
Principal Ian Bowsher confirmed it was a teaching assistant.
Whooping cough is extremely contagious and it’s particularly serious in babies under six months of age, who are at risk of severe complications such as pneumonia, seizures brain damage and even death.
Babies cannot have their first round of vaccinations until six weeks.
Northern Sydney Local Health District was not able to provide a breakdown of whooping cough incidents by suburb, but confirmed there were 52 cases across the region in May and 27 so far this month.
The district covers the northern beaches as well as Ryde, Hornsby and the north shore.
Member for Mackellar, Jason Falinski, has previously called out the low immunisation rates in his electorate, which covers Palm Beach and Ingleside down to Dee Why and across to Davidson.
Only 89.38 per cent of one-year-olds are fully immunised in Mackellar. For two year-olds it’s even worse, the immunisation rate is at 81.94 per cent, which makes it the second worst electorate in the country.
“While I am not in a position to draw a conclusion about this outbreak and vaccination rates the federal government continues to strongly encourage people to look at the medical evidence and have their children vaccinated,” Mr Falinski said.
Last year the government launched a $5.5 million ‘Get the Facts about Immunisation’ campaign to encourage Australian parents to get their kids vaccinated.
Mr Falinski ran a social media campaign alongside it to encourage change.
Barrenjoey High parents were sent a fact sheet on whooping cough, also referred to as pertussis.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
●Whooping cough usually begins like a cold with a blocked or runny nose, tiredness, mild fever and a cough.
●The cough gets worse and severe bouts of uncontrollable coughing can develop.
●Coughing bouts can be followed by vomiting, choking or taking a big gasping breath which causes a “whooping” sound.
●The cough can last for many weeks and can be worse at night.
●Some newborns may not cough at all but they can stop breathing and turn blue. Some babies have difficulties feeding and can choke or gag.
●Older children and adults may just have a cough that lasts for many weeks. They may not have the whoop.