Originally published May 3, 2012 at 2:35 PM | Page modified May 3, 2012 at 10:24 PM

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Getting vaccinated and when

To guard against whooping cough, health officials recommend this vaccination schedule. The shots offer protection against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus.

Children age 6 and under should have five shots, including four in their first 18 months. The fifth shot of DTaP should be given between ages 4 and 6.

Children ages 11 or 12 are recommended for a booster shot known as Tdap that has been available since 2007. Whooping-cough vaccine is required for entry to child care and school. State law allows certain exemptions; however, unvaccinated children may be asked to stay home during an outbreak.

Teens and adults should get another Tdap booster to provide protection against whooping cough for years. Officials say the booster is especially important for pregnant women. Check with your health-care provider to determine if you are current on vaccinations.

Source: state Department of Health

Whooping-cough symptoms

Whooping cough can feel like a common cold for teens and adults but can be life-threatening for a younger child.

The infection has three basic stages, and the first 21 days are the most contagious:

1. The first two weeks, it will look like the common cold. Usually those infected notice an occasional cough.

2. Fits of coughing begin, followed by a distinct “whooping” sound, a phase that lasts about six weeks.

3. Recovery starts as the cough begins to die out.

If you have these symptoms, talk with your doctor.

Source: state Department of Health

OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire opened an emergency fund Thursday to help contain a spreading whooping-cough epidemic, and officials urged residents to get vaccinated against an illness that particularly threatens infants.

Gregoire is making $90,000 in crisis cash available to help strengthen a public-awareness campaign about the need for the pertussis vaccination. The state Department of Health is already looking to spend about $200,000 on the effort.

“Pertussis is very serious, especially for babies,” Secretary of Health Mary Selecky said in a statement. “It’s vital that teens and adults are current on their immunizations because they’re often the ones who give whooping cough to babies.”

The state has also received approval from the federal government to divert some federal cash toward the purchase of 27,000 doses of the whooping-cough vaccine. Those will be available for the uninsured.

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by coughing and sneezing. Infants are particularly vulnerable to whooping cough because they can’t be immunized before 4 to 6 weeks.

So far this year, 20 children under the age of 1 have been hospitalized for whooping cough, according to state data. Last year, two babies in Washington died from the illness.

Babies often get the illness from adults and family members because the shots children get wear off over time. Officials want residents to get a whooping-cough booster, called a Tdap.

Washington has already recorded 1,132 cases of whooping cough this year — about 10 times more than the same time last year, according to disease investigators at the Department of Health. The state is recording more than 400 cases of pertussis each month — four times more than the threshold that state officials consider “epidemic” levels — and Washington is on pace for as many as 3,000 cases in 2012.

Those are numbers that haven’t been seen in decades.

“In my 13 years as secretary this is the first time I’ve had to use the word ‘epidemic’ about disease in our state,” Selecky said.

Health officials say only about 10 percent of cases are typically reported, so the number tabulated by state officials shows only a fraction of the total cases statewide. Skagit County is somewhat of an epicenter this year, with more than 200 cases. That’s a rate about three times higher than in the next nearest county — Jefferson.

The public-awareness campaign will include a radio ad airing statewide, as well as public-service announcements, said health-department spokesman Tim Church. Officials also plan advertisements on Facebook and Google, and they are exploring bus and billboard ads.

On Friday, Selecky and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., plan to ask the CDC to send investigators and epidemiologists to help the state study and contain the epidemic. such a study would help state health officials with their response and identify why the epidemic is growing so quickly, according to Cantwell’s office.

News where, when and how you want it

What’s Going around

A bad cough, sneezing, and congestion: we try to avoid these symptoms at all costs but thousands of adults still go without the recommended vaccinations every year.

Studies show only one-third of adults take the flu shot during the season. And other more dangerous diseases are also being put on the back burner.

The most forgotten illness is chickenpox.  It’s not just for kids.  In fact, adults are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized when they have chicken pox than are children. the Centers for Disease Control recommends two doses of the vaccine if you’ve never had it.

If you’re 60 or older, you’re not off the hook.  one million adults get shingles every year. It’s caused by the same virus as chickenpox.  It stays dormant for years and can reactivate, causing severe pain. the shingles vaccine is recommended for all adults over 60.

Finally, whooping cough. For years one shot as a child was considered enough, but doctors say it’s becoming more of an adult problem.  Doctors suggest adults, especially parents, have one Tdap vaccine followed by a tetanus booster every 10 years.

Your doctor should review your status with you every check-up.  Blood tests can show if you need the vaccine for some types of diseases, but the best best is to just get re-vaccinated. Experts say even if you’ve taken the shot in the past, it won’t harm you.

• Copyright 2012 by Ivanhoe Broadcast News and News4Jax.com. all rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

March 9, 2012, 7:11 pm

I am addicted to humour. For me it has lessened the misery of this wretched world and I’d heartily recommend it to co-sufferers. The humour and wit of Stephen Leacock, P. G. Wodehouse, Art Buchwald, O. Henry, H.L. Mencken and Richard Armour have so far sustained me. and then came the elixir Molvania – (A Jetlag Travel Guide).

Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Rob Sitch. 2003. Hardie Grant Books, Victoria, Australia

The three names that one assumes are the authors, mentioned on the cover, are supplemented inside by seven more whose role I wouldn’t know, but I bless them all.

Nor is it clear where Molvania the country, is, though it would appear to be somewhere in Eastern Europe. So the reader, nor I, need bother about booking a passage to Molvania with the travel office, but travel in an armchair with the book is good enough.

First an explanatory note on Humour and jokes. The great Sigmund Freud wrote; "A favourite definition of a joke has long been the ability to find similarity between dissimilar things" and "… it is either a hostile joke serving the purpose of aggressiveness, satire, or defence ", an illustration of which is the following:

On an official visit to Britain, he was driven in a 6-horse drawn carriage with the Queen, to Buckingham Palace. During the lengthy drive, one horse noisily released wind and the Queen felt so embarrassed and told Bush "mr. President, I am sorry, but as you have just heard that there are things that even the Queen of England cannot control". Bush replied "your Majesty, no matter. Until you told me so, I thought it was the horse".

Arthur Koestler considered it to be the reaction to the collision (‘bisociation’) between two independent, contrasting matrices of perception or reasoning. The Bush story has the two incompatible matricies, the staid George Bush and the Regal Queen on the one hand and the release of noisy wind on the other which is totally incompatible with, at least, the Queen..

With Molvania, one gets staid travelogue information on one matrix such as "Customs & Duties – "there are technically no limits on the amount of alcohol one may bring into the country…",

followed by the other but incompatible matrix

"… but customs inspectors will often demand you open a bottle so they can test its contents before letting you go through".

The book will speak for itself and here are some of its selected, delicious morsels within quotation marks. I’d advise against trying to pronounce audibly these place names; a sore throat could ensue.

Warning to readers – "Not all pages (of the Guide) correspond to the sections indicated. This is not an editor’s mistake, but due to the fact that this book has been printed in Molvania by a company that is very superstitious in matters of numerology".

Some aspects of History

"Molvania, the world’s number one producer of beetroot and whooping cough is a country steeped in history…..".

-To travel there one needs vaccinations for "…cholera, typhoid, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, polio, tuberculosis, malaria, tetanus, dengue fever, and tick-borne encephalitis. those planning to travel into the countryside might also consider an anthrax shot".

- In Classical Times (50 BC – Roman Invasion)…Hortensius Clarus led his legions East ,… upon taking the city of Jraftwok, "..he demanded the king’s daughter as a concubine. she bravely slit his throat after he insisted she shaves her armpits".

-Busjbusj, the Father of Modern Molvania was affectionately known as Bu-Bu; ".. this pioneering statesman has roads, bridges, statues, rivers and even a communicable disease named after him".

- Djar Rzeumerten was Molvania’s most famous philosopher "…whose greatest achievement was to actually prove that he did not exist"; if Rene Descartes who said "I think, therefore I am" was around, hand-to-hand combat would have been inevitable.

Customs – "if invited to someone’s home, remember to always remove your shoes in the entrance as a sign of respect, and to give yourself something with which to hit the family pet should it attack".

Sports – "Molvania is football-mad. Sadly, their national team has had little in the way of international success, especially since the introduction of random drug-testing".

The people – Bulgs in the south and centre make 68 %, Hungars in the north 29 %, and the Molvs mainly in prison make 3 % .

-"In Holy Week… married couples will often abstain from domestic violence".

Weddings – are of enormous social significance. after the wedding ceremony, "the happy couple are led into separate rooms to consummate their union".

Language – "Molvanian is a difficult language to speak… ". there are several phonetic sounds which "linguists suspect could represent either a rare dialect or merely peasants clearing their throat".

Music – "Molvania has a rich musical heritage… origins stretch back to the Middle Ages when shepherds would carry a kvkadra ( a simple brass horn used to drive away wolves)..".

Traditional dances – they have the Mzazeruk "… in which a trio of young women perform an energetic jig while a circle of men attempt to fondle them".

Crime – "Pickpockets are active around many of the major railway stations… if something goes missing, the best thing to do is to look for a Guarjda Civilje" (a cop). "Chances are he will be the person who stole it".

Telephones – Within Molvania, ",,. Simply dial 01 and wait for a buzzing tone, which will generally be followed by the sound of someone clearing their throat loudly and cursing. This is the operator".

Cafes – Road-side cafes are popular as are the street cafes in Paris, and you can take a seat and have things to eat or drink.

-Bardjov Observatory with a radio-telescope, part of NASA’s SETI program, for collecting signals from outer space. Now due to funding cut-backs it is used to re-transmit EuroPorn Cable TV across Molvania.

-Bardjov diners "are always welcome in Maria’s Brasserie", but the advertisement earlier read "they are welcome in her brassiere". The error was regretted.

-While shopping for curios in Bardjov, travelers might hear the "familiar tap-tap-tap of chisels on brass; "Often this is just a dentist plying his trade…"

-Bardjovians wish to be automakers. ‘Their Skumpta has scored well in recent safety tests that involved four leading European car models being driven into a wall at 60 kmph. The other three suffered extensive front-end damage whereas the Skumpta emerged unscathed, having broken down every time during the run up’.

- "…deep rooted traditions continue to flourish. In many villages here it’s not uncommon for elderly women to grab you by the ears and spit three times into your face, said to offer protection from evil-spirits. It won’t however, protect you from tuberculosis…".

-While trekking up the Postenwalj ranges, trekkers "are advised to wear bright clothes and avoid looking like a moose or gypsy labourer", as the Svetranj Gun Club members take to the hills for target practice.

-Though Molvanian cedar is strong when first cut, it easily splinters and cracks without warning but is the only timber that does not rust.

-In Dzrebo, the Best Boutique hotel award went to the Salvation Army shelter.

-Aquatz Jcejlezic is a famous fountain, and as with the Trivi Fountain in Italy, young lovers would make a wish before tossing a coin. This practice has been banned ".. after well organized gangs of gypsies, many equipped with scuba equipment, began raiding the facility"

The Great Central Valley.

- caffeine lovers can order a kappacinjo, a locally brewed coffee topped with a layer of frothy milk uniquely derived from animals infected with mad cow disease".

-became "… the first city in Europe to permit driving on either side of the road and giving livestock the vote".

Dining. Yankjees is a newly opened diner offering "what it calls ‘Molvanian American Cuisine’ . however, due to the chef’s somewhat literal interpretation of foreign recipes, ‘hot-dogs’ are best avoided".

Editor’s note to visitor-diners.

-" We have recently been informed that our previous edition’s advice about belching loudly and breaking wind at the end of a meal in western Molvania as a means of showing appreciation is apparently not accurate. The Contributor responsible has been sacked".

- In Gyrorik cathedral , kissing the famous Zjekvel Bell is said to bring good luck, although the high rates of Herpes simplex infection among believers would cast some doubt over this claim".

-The local Buro dj Turizm (Bureau of Tourism) declares "In Jzerbo every day is a holiday" which could explain why the office seems to be permanently shut.

- "The government bus line AutoMolv operates a weekly service that generally runs non-stop (it has no brakes)…"

Dining. "…if a local artiste performs at your table, good manners dictate that you give a tip; the amount depends on whether the performance takes place next to your table or on top of it".

Bull-fighting. "Instead of teasing the bull with a red cloak, he controls it with a long-handled electric cattle prod. Naturally the crowd loves every minute of this unique spectacle and will often wager large sums of money on how many minutes the animal will last before going into cardiac arrest"

-Vlatvja was Lublova university’s famous astronomer who would gaze at the heavens through a long tubular device he called the tojlet rol. In 1496 he was called before a Papal inquiry where charges of heresy were dropped. he was however condemned to death as an idiot.

-In the Jzerckev National Park, visitors, keen to enjoy the natural views, are warned that for much of this section of the journey the train travels through an underground tunnel.

-Although the hotel Trizcejem Dormitorj claims to offer ‘disabled access’, "one visitor reported that the wheelchair ramps on offer were so steep that anyone attempting to use them, if not completely disabled, would soon be rendered so".

-PM Tony Blair visited Zjej Zjej, one of Lublova’s most prestigious dining establishments. This is true but they fail to mention that he was a part of the EU Parliamentary delegation that was looking into likely sources of the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Taking the original rail line from Lutenblag to Jzerbo, "…passengers may, however, alight at Trbeki Junction and complete the remainder of their journey by horse-drawn donkey. Most visitors view this as a charming option, until they realize that it’s the only option".

-Travel – Passenger trains have no reserved seating in first-class and no seating at all in third class unless you count the roof".

bicycle – a Brochure titled "seeing the city by bike" is available from most book stores as well as the casualty ward of the Lutenblag Hospital.

Accommodation – Rojal Palatz Hotjl. "Prices are understandably high although you will save by booking a room during the winter off-season when the hotel is closed.

U Tri Hradjna was recently voted ‘the most beautiful hotel’ by the readers of the Vision Euro magazine, a quarterly publication catering for the visually impaired traveler.

Diagzop Hostjl opposite the railway station, "…has no shower or bath facilities, but you will find a discount car wash across the road".

Hotel music – Folk musicians are often used by Molvanian restaurateurs as a means of encouraging diners to leave at the end of a meal.

Taxis – "many cab drivers will refuse to pick up diners after a meal at" Nenja " Olga’s due to the high incidence of passengers vomiting inside the vehicle".

Dining – Kisjipja is run by a married couple (if the arguments from within the kitchen are anything to go by) …"Bring a can of insect repellent which will not only keep the mosquitoes away, but also can be sprayed onto your food to improve the taste".

Sadjevcis "café caters for the city’s academics and intelligentsia and, as a consequence, is generally empty".

Space Technology – "Molvanian scientists designed and built the first space-craft to be fuelled by refined mineral turpentine. Tragically, Splutfab I exploded on launch killing its entire crew and stripping paint from buildings within a 5km radius. Splutfab II was more successful and in 1963, Molvania became the first nation to successfully land a man on Poland".

Entertainment – In the Workers’ Theatre, the acoustics were said to be "…so good that one could whisper on stage and be clearly heard in the Information Ministry building across the street".

Statues – The statue of Helmzlog III, the Liberator of Lutenblag is holding aloft a sword and what was for years assumed to be a shield, but has recently turned out – on closer examination – to be the grille of a Fiat 350".

Science – Jzeovak Tkermec was a brilliant scientist. "In 1987 he succeeded in grafting a human ear onto a mouse. but his greatest breakthrough came a year later when he successfully managed to graft a mouse onto a human ear".

Public conveniences – Lutenblag has the prototype of the world’s first and only female urinal. Installed in 1896, "It still operates, although first-time users are advised to bring a change of shoes".

In the unique mountain region towering above the River Fiztula, "… you can trek the famous Valentinji Promendji (‘Lover’s Walk’) amidst the beauty of forested slopes, covered in cyclamen, heather, gorse, and used prophylactics".

Hotels – The Zibberrief Hotjl, like its owner’s teeth, has undergone extensive renovation, and most rooms offer TV and private bathrooms".

"The slightly drab décor of the rooms is brightened up by the presence of pot plants and a variety of colourful bathroom mould".

"Djormi’s has been closed down by authorities after guests reported finding video cameras hidden in the womens’ shower facilities. The owner, the irrepressible Viktor Djormi, originally denied all knowledge, then insisted the cameras were there for security to prevent soap and towel theft. The matter is still before the courts where a full bench of judges are now into their second year of viewing the taped evidence".

-Sasava is a city often compared to Paris, "not so much for its culture or architecture but the fact that it is overcrowded and covered in dog droppings".

- "… a number of events are planned including open-air concerts, fireworks displays and a small-pox eradication campaign".

- The Zcejet Kcev is a chalet that has a "..comfortable, fresh-air feeling – due in part to the fact that a large chunk of its roof is missing".

- "No one spends much time in Sasava without being offered a glass of biljgum, the locally brewed brandy. This highly scented, thick liqueur is quite unlike anything you’ve ever tasted – unless you inadvertently swallowed fabric conditioner – and is generally offered at the end of a meal as a means of prompting the guests to leave".

- Svateho is a trendy eatery. "Choose from a menu of smoked pastries, smoked sandwiches, and smoked, smoked salmon, as well as some local specialties such as hvarus mecac (sheep’s scrotum and rice)".

- In Fzovrezec Steak Cave, "… patrons have the opportunity of hearing local musicians play the zamfir, described by one visitor as a cross between a gypsy violin and a rusty car door".

- The old city of Sasava is not large, and if you get an early start you can complete a leisurely walking tour of all its highlights in a day, allowing plenty of time for meals and getting mugged".

-Tick bites can get infected and "… the sufferer may experience fever, headache, extreme fatigue and neck stiffness, which are – coincidentally – also the symptoms of a night listening to the Sasava Symphony Orchestra".

- at the Tleojczeks vineyards, there are "…scores of visitors lined up at the wooden bar, quaffing mouthfuls of wine and spitting it out into a large centrally-placed spittoon. For those on a tight budget it is possible to wait outside and sample the contents of the spittoon for a slightly reduced cost".

-"The best way to see the Old Town is on foot, preferably your own, although there are beggars based at the railway station who offer a piggy-back service".

- there is a baby-sitter service. "all their nannies are trained in first-aid and hand-to-hand combat".

- Mid-range dining can be had at the Mdejazcic, where you can feast on such local delicacies as igormzca (meat roasted on a spit) and nzemji (meat roasted in spit)".

- In the Gyrorik Art Gallery, restoration of a suspected Rembrandt was begun by the Curator Mzecjenj. The outer layer of the painting was delicately stripped away. The work took almost 16 months and eventually revealed nothing underneath. … all that remained of value was the frame, which now holds a copy of mr. Mzecjenj’s letter of resignation".

-Donkey-handlers can be hired for rides. "A word of warning- some visitors have reported being kicked and even bitten by these ill-tempered beasts and so care should be exercised. Fortunately the donkeys themselves are quite placid".

-At Sjavtzas, "the rooms are plain and simple with no real surprises apart from the odd frog in the bidet, (the owner tells us that they are edible). and there’s a pleasant courtyard out the back where guests can hang washing or themselves, depending on their mood".

- "One of the most fascinating items on display is the zmittenblag, a fearsome jagged sword, used by palace officials from the early 14th century onwards for performing circumcisions and trimming hedges".

-In Vajana, "diners my bring their own wine but should expect to either pay a 20 % corkage fee or, alternatively, allow the waiter to drink 20 % of the bottle".

In Vajana, a good budget option is Olga’s, a small private hostel run by the feisty Olga. "…there’s space to chill out in a shady terrace garden, that, like the owner’s armpits, is delightfully overgrown".

Motoring . Drivers are "..strongly advised to contact the Vajana Police Headquarters and leave details of when you are planning to set off, when you expect to arrive and – in the event of trouble – whether you’d like your remains to be buried or cremated".

-In Lake Vjaza, "for a small tip your captain will launch into a traditional folk song. For an additional tip, he’ll stop".

- there are numerous sandy beaches around Lake Vajana….. "Naturally enough, the entire area is very popular with nudists, and several stretches of shoreline are designated ‘clothes free’. Binoculars are available for hire at most nearby shops".

…………………………………………………………

Disclaimer: This writer declares that he has no stake in this book; he might however seek appointment as Honorary Consul for Molvania in Sri Lanka

DOBSON — while Surry County hasn’t experienced a case of whooping cough since 2010, there have been reported cases in Virginia and area officials are on the alert.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is an endemic and a common disease in the United States, with periodic epidemics every three to five years and frequent outbreaks. in 2010, 27,550 cases of pertussis were reported and many more cases go unreported.

Theresa Hughes, the lead communicable disease nurse at the Surry County Health and Nutrition Center, said Surry County’s last case of whooping cough happened in the summer of 201o.

“this is a highly contagious, respiration infection. The symptoms are runny nosy, sneezing, watery eyes, which later turn into a coughing attack that has a high pitched whoop at the end,” said Hughes.

The primary goal of pertussis outbreak control efforts is to decrease morbidity (amount of disease) and mortality (death) among infants; a secondary goal is to decrease morbidity among persons of all ages.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, a vaccination is the best way to prevent pertussis. Confirmed pertussis cases among children in 2012 have occurred in a number of states including New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The CDC said the recommended pertussis vaccine for children is called DTaP. this is a safe and effective combination vaccine that protects children against three diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. for maximum protection against pertussis, children need five DTaP shots. The first three shots are given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. The fourth shot is given at 15 through 18 months of age, and a fifth shot is given when a child enters school, at 4 through 6 years of age. If a 7-10 year old is not up-to-date with DTaP vaccines, a dose of Tdap should be given before the 11-12 year old check up.

After someone is diagnosed, it’s recommended that they rest at home for at least five days.

Verona Danley, the communicable disease nurse for the Surry County Health and Nutrition Center, said the best treatment for the whooping cough is the antibiotic Azithromycin.

“get to your doctor early. get treatment,” said Danley.

According to state communicable disease branch, there were 126 cases of whooping cough in North Carolina in 2011. there were 343 cases in 2010.

Hughes said the disease may be on the rise because vaccinations wane over time and need to be updated. after getting the vaccine, the patient has a better chance of catching the disease because they have not reached full immunity from vaccine.

It is recommended that all adults get a one-time booster dose. Hughes said adults especially need the vaccine if they are going to be around infants 12 months or younger.

The adult whooping cough vaccine is available. It is important for new and expecting parents, as well as all adults who will be around newborns and for babies to get the vaccine. The Surry County Health and Nutrition Center offers the adult vaccines for $64.80. Some insurance plans cover the vaccines, but most do not, said Marion. Medicare does not cover the cost of the vaccine.

Hughes said once a patient is diagnosed with whooping cough, antibiotics are prescribed, so that the person will be less infectious to other people.

“The ‘whoop’ last for about two weeks, but at doesn’t mean infectious,” said Hughes.

Reach Mondee Tilley at or at 719-1930.

AN Adelaide woman has contracted measles from a stranger in a rare transmission of the virus in Australia.

The woman’s case has been linked to that of an Adelaide man who picked up the highly infectious virus while travelling overseas earlier this year.

SA Health yesterday warned South Australians to be alert for symptoms of the disease, which can cause brain damage in severe cases.

It is understood the woman, 44, was in the same vicinity as the man, 23, at some stage during his infectious phase.

They are not believed to be known to each other.

Measles cases have been rare in Australia since the measles vaccine was introduced in 1966.

In SA, 87 per cent of kindergarten-aged children receive vaccinations to protect them against infectious diseases including whooping cough, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria.

Almost all cases are unimmunised travellers bringing the disease from overseas. There were four in SA last year but none spread to a stranger.

SA Health chief medical officer Professor Paddy Phillips said the infectious phase lasted about two weeks and the disease could be spread by coughing and sneezing.

He said the airborne virus was highly contagious among those who were not fully immunised.

"The illness begins with fever, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes, followed by a rash which begins on the head and then spreads down the body," he said. "Complications of measles can be severe."

Anyone who was at any of the following locations around Adelaide at the listed times should watch for symptoms over the next two weeks, Prof Phillips said.

Tuesday, January 31: 10am-2pm, West Lakes Shopping Centre.

Wednesday, February 1: 10am-3pm, Cyprus Community Club, Welland.

Thursday, February 2: 9.30am-12pm, Uniting Care Wesley, Adelaide; 10am-4pm, Thebarton Neighbourhood House, Mile end; 12pm-3.30pm, Woodville Bowl.

Friday, February 3: 9.30am-5pm, Cheltenham Community Centre; 10.40am train from Cheltenham to the city; 11am-2pm, Jasper’s Coffee shop, Adelaide; 12.07 pm train to Cheltenham.

SA Health has alerted each business and GPs.

By Dr. Jean Hudson Published: 2:00 AM – 12/21/11

Thanks to vaccinations, pertussis — commonly known as whooping cough — once seemed a thing of the past, seldom heard about in our schools. Today, unfortunately, notes sent home by the school nurse are beginning to tell a different story: Whooping cough is on the rise.

Experts are not entirely sure why there has been a resurgence in this highly contagious bacterial infection. Some believe current infant vaccinations may no longer be enough, and immunity begins to decline during the adolescent years. In fact, the government is now considering a booster shot to strengthen immunity to this sometimes deadly disease. so how do you know if what you’re dealing with is actually whooping cough? to hear the classic cough and “whoop,” go to healthyorange.com and follow the whooping cough links on the front page. It’s distressing. Worse, it can be fatal, particularly in the first year of life.

That’s why hospitals and obstetricians are beginning to offer not only flu shots but also Tdap boosters (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) to new parents, grandparents and other close contacts of newborns to prevent transmission of the disease.

The problem is that older children and adults usually don’t “whoop” when struggling for air, which can make recognizing the disease difficult. What they may experience is paroxysmal coughing, or a severe coughing attack, that can result in vomiting.

Of course, at this time of year the persistent cough can easily be confused with other cough illnesses, often caused by viruses. Pertussis (whooping cough), however, is a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics — if diagnosed early enough.

While deaths from whooping cough have recently risen, cases have increased, too, with 27,550 reported nationwide in 2010. In Orange County this year, we have seen 21 cases, 14 of those since October. Doctors in the county (and state) have been alerted to “think pertussis” when seeing patients with chronic cough.

So protect yourself and your family — keep your shots up-to-date, stay home if you’re sick, don’t ignore persistent symptoms, and keep that handwashing going.

P.S. You’ve had your flu shot, right?

Dr. Jean Hudson, MD, MPH, is the Orange County Health Commissioner.

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Additional cases of whooping cough have been identified in Alamance County since health officials announced earlier this week that the state lab confirmed that three children at B. Everett Jordan Elementary have the bacterial infection.

While there is no need to verify additional cases with the state lab, there are four other cases that are considered “confirmed” because the people had symptoms and have been in contact with one of the children originally tested. There are another nine people who have symptoms and those are considered “probable cases,” said Dr. Kathleen Shapley-Quinn, medical director at the Alamance County Health Department.

All the reported cases are linked to B. Everett Jordan Elementary School. The parents of all the children who attend the school along with staff have all been contacted by the health department and offered a preventative antibiotic.

“What we are doing now is reviewing all the information we have gathered talking to 560 children’s parents to see if there are other children affected,” Shapley-Quinn said.

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a bacterial infection that starts with typical cold symptoms and in one to two weeks develops into prolonged bursts of coughing with a “whooping noise” at the end. while the infection is rarely a cause of serious disease or hospitalization in school-age children and adults, it can be dangerous to babies younger than 12 months.

“We are really focused on keeping babies from getting pertussis,” Shapley-Quinn said. 

While most babies are vaccinated against pertussis along with all public school children before they start kindergarten, the vaccine isn’t foolproof. It’s 88 percent effective, Shapley-Quinn said.

“That means 12 children of every 100 are at risk,” she said. “The vaccine isn’t perfect.”

Health officials recommend that if a child develops symptoms — runny nose, cough and low-grade fever — that child should be taken to the doctor for an evaluation. Pertussis is most contagious before the coughing starts.

While a preventative antibiotic is being offered to staff and children at B. Everett Jordan Elementary, the best way to prevent the disease is through a Tdap vaccination, which prevents tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis. In 2008, state law required that all sixth-graders receive a Tdap booster shot.

Anyone with questions about pertussis or who thinks they’ve been exposed to the infection can call the health department’s communicable disease hotline at 336-516-7715.

Don’t panic! take a deep breath and clear your senses, we can get through this together!

Maybe it’s somewhere close by that you’re not looking, perhaps we moved the link to a better location, it’s even a slight possibility we messed up and lost the page.

If you were trying to open the standard.net homepage, you’re at the right place – but we have a temporary glitch. however, all links above and below this notice on the homepage still work. So, please try those links to find what you’re seeking, or use the keyword search box at the top right of this page. sorry for this temporary outage. We appreciate your patience.

Check the url in your address bar for typos. If you followed a link from another site, maybe they just haven’t updated it in awhile and it’s pointing to a page we moved, or trashed.

Of course, you can always start from scratch on our homepage. Don’t forget our search bar either, always at the top of your viewport on ever standard.net page.

How do I know if my neighbourhood is likely to be affected by flooding and power cuts? How do I find out if I can get where I need to go?

Official sources such as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (bangkokgis.com/flood, flood hotline is 1555), the Irrigation Department (hydrology.rid.go.th/wmsc/index.php, or call 1460), Flood Relief Operations Command (floodthailand.net), as well as thaiflood.com and dds.bangkok.go.th follow developments, but English-language information is limited. For general information you can contact the Government Call Centre (1111). For Thai speakers, there are hotlines for trains (1690), buses (1490), highways (1586, 1784; and 1146 for local roads), highway police (1193) and emergencies (191). the Thai Meteorological Department has weather forecasts and warnings at tmd.go.th/en, the Emergency Operation Centre at disaster.go.th/dpm/flood/floodEng.html and the Government PR Department at thailand.prd.go.th. at 203.150.230.27/FloodMap/index.html is a useful map of flooded areas, suggested travel routes and danger zones.

What other resources for English speakers and foreigners are there?

Follow English-language news sites such as bangkokpost.co.th, mcot.net or thaitravelnews.net for updates. the English, French and German-speaking tourist police can be reached on 1155. Useful blogs and forums include thaitravelblogs.com and thaivisa.com. Contact your embassy for recommendations. the United States embassy provides useful information at

bangkok.usembassy.gov/floodinformation.html, or call 02-205-4049; the British embassy at ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/travel-advice, or call 02-305-8333. the Tourism Authority of Thailand (1672) offers general information for tourists.

Will public transport stay in operation?

Many buses have changed routes to use unaffected roads (call 1490). the BTS will continue running as long as there is a stable power supply, and as of Friday afternoon the MRT had closed some entrances and may shut some stations, though it aims to operate as long as possible. the Chao Phraya Express Boat service is halted until Nov 7. Train services to the North have been suspended, while many long-distance buses are running alternate, more time-consuming routes as some roads and highways remain closed. (You can check affected roads by visiting maintenance.doh.go.th/flood54.html). there is also a taxi shortage in some parts of the city, as drivers have taken their cars off the road or gone upcountry. Don Mueang airport is closed until Tuesday, but Suvarnabhumi is operating normally and is fortified with flood walls.

If it is necessary to evacuate, will the armed forces or other services help residents move to safety?

It is probably better to take preventive measures early in case authorities are overloaded by relief efforts. if your area is at high risk of flooding you should consider packing a suitcase with essentials and being mobile for a quick evacuation if necessary.

If I’d rather not wait for official clarifications, where can I go? are shelters for everyone?

Many schools and public buildings have been set up as shelters and there are hundreds in metropolitan Bangkok and thousands nationwide. Visit shelter.thaiflood.com (for places in Bangkok: shelter.thaiflood.com/index.php?province=10) for a list of shelters (in Thai) or call 1111. You can stay in a shelter in any district if you have been affected. the site has telephone numbers for each shelter, which might also be useful if you are trying to contact evacuees to find out if they are safe.

What foods and supplies should we stockpile at home?

Water is most essential, along with tinned and dry packaged goods, torches, radios and extra batteries, essential medicines and other foods to last a protracted stay at home that could stretch several weeks.

Will banks stay open? Will money be available from ATMs?

Banks have indicated they will stay open and cash will be available, except for branches and machines in hard-hit areas.

Will mobile phone networks be secure? Will internet providers and Wi-Fi hotspots stay operational?

These should continue working as long as an electricity is available. many services are already experiencing some disruptions due to heavy use or staff being unable to get to work.

Will supermarkets and convenience stores remain open? what stocks will they have and how long will they last? Will petrol stations be able to provide fuel?

Don’t count on them staying open. at the time of publication, Tesco Lotus has closed 40 stores and 7-Eleven has closed over 270 convenience stores, and supplies of water and some commodities are dwindling.

What are some of the health and safety risks I face walking through floodwaters?

Floating and submerged objects; broken glass; snake, rodent and crocodile bites; and chemical and petroleum contamination from inundated factories and refineries are some possible dangers, as well as an increased risk of infection of water-borne diseases and wound infections, dermatitis, conjunctivitis and ear, nose and throat infections, not to mention drowning.

Will raw sewage be mixed with the water?

This is quite possible, as tanks and treatment facilities become inundated.

Is there greater risk of communicable diseases? should we take any precautionary measures such as vaccinations?

According to the World Health Organisation, floods can potentially increase the transmission of water-borne diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis and hepatitis a; and vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever, yellow fever and West Nile Fever. however, ”this risk is low unless there is significant population displacement and/or water sources are compromised”, while ”tetanus is not common after injury from flooding”. the organisation doesn’t recommend mass immunisation drives, but be vigilant for possible symptoms such as fever and skin irritation. there was a leptospirosis epidemic in Thailand in 2000 following flooding. try to ensure safe food preparation and clean water.

What do I do in case of a medical emergency? Will hospitals be open?

Call 1669 for medical emergencies or 1554 for an ambulance. Hospitals will stay open, but ambulances may not be able to reach you if surrounding areas are inundated, and some services may be curtailed. Chulalongkorn Hospital is closed to new patients except emergency cases until tomorrow, and Siriraj Hospital has an evacuation contingency plan for critically ill patients if the hospital grounds are flooded.

If running water is still available at home, can its quality be relied on? can it be boiled to use for drinking water?

Normally it is safe as long as it is boiled, but check the water colour. Some municipal tap water has already turned yellow or brown due to backwater contaminating water supplies, and it is advised not to drink it unless it is filtered or at least chlorinated and boiled. new water filtration machines have been installed at evacuation centres and hospitals.

If there is still a power supply at home, is it safe to use all the appliances normally, provided they aren’t in contact with water?

The risk of electrocution is very real. if your home is flooded or at imminent risk, turn off the power supply and don’t use electrical appliances except for battery-powered essentials such as torches or radios.

What insurance claims can I make for home and/or vehicle damage?

Check your policy. Unless you have prime insurance or specific coverage for flood damage, it is unlikely you can claim damages.

Is my employer legally required to provide me with some form of compensation or allowance during the floods if I’m affected?

Most companies will show sympathy for stranded employees but aren’t obligated to provide compensation or days off for you to secure your home.

How long is this period of uncertainty likely to last?

This weekend’s high tide will be particularly precarious, but because of the billions of litres of water still flowing to the capital from the North, high water levels may continue to be a problem for another six weeks or longer.

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The state of Iowa continues to ignore the fact that vision screenings in school can prevent many current and future problems for our children. Kids need to see to learn.

Considering that nearly

80 percent of what a child learns the first 12 years of life is through vision, good eyesight is an essential part of a child’s education. so, when a vision problem is overlooked, a child goes through life in a blurry fog, with poor grades and potential behavior issues.

It is disheartening to know that Iowa is one of only 10 states that does not require a vision screening or examination to ensure school-aged children are ready to learn.

Iowa spends thousands of dollars annually to educate each child in our school system, but we fail to ensure that they can see.

In addition to wasting state funding, we have disregarded the clear

connection between vision problems and learning disabilities along with behavior issues. Nearly

80 percent of children with learning disabilities and 70 percent of juvenile delinquents have an

undiagnosed vision problem.

The newly elected Iowa Legislature has the opportunity to ensure that every dime we invest in our children’s education is being put to good use by requiring vision screenings at every school during the first and third grades.

This legislation is supported by Prevent Blindness Iowa (PBI) and other organizations who understand the importance of our children being visually prepared to learn. PBI, a voluntary health organization dedicated to the prevention of blindness and the preservation of sight, provides free vision screenings to nearly 20,000 Iowa children annually to detect common eye problems. once a vision problem is detected through a vision screening, these children are sent to an eye doctor for a comprehensive exam to ensure their vision is corrected.

Not only do these screenings assist in learning, but they can also detect a vision problem that can cause permanent sight loss if left untreated. with one in four school-aged children experiencing a vision problem, we can’t afford to let these children slip through the cracks and suffer from vision problems that can have lifelong consequences.

Iowa has fallen behind other states on investing in our children’s vision health. The Iowa Legislature has the power to help ensure each child has the opportunity to excel in school and become successful adults through affordable, regular vision screenings.

Our children’s health and education must continue to be our no. 1 one priority.

Chris Schroeder is president of Prevent Blindness Iowa, preventblindness.org/Iowa/. Comments: