Illinois County Records Worst Pertussis Outbreak on Record

Last month, the Chicago Tribune reported that McHenry County in Illinois had over 300 cases of pertussis, also known as whopping cough.  Nineteen communities across the county have been impacted after what began as a small outbreak at a community high school.

Since the 1980s, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of pertussis in the U.S., especially among 10-19 year olds and infants younger than 6 months of age.  In 2010, over 27,000 cases of pertussis were reported in the U.S., but many more cases likely go undiagnosed and unreported.    

Pertussis is a respiratory illness and is a very contagious disease.  It is caused by a type of bacteria known as Bordetella pertussis and humans appear to be the only hosts.  People with pertussis usually spread the disease by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others, who then breathe in the pertussis bacteria. Many infants who get pertussis may be infected by siblings, parents or caregivers who might not even know they have been infected.  Symptoms of pertussis usually develop within 7–10 days after being exposed, but sometimes it may take as long as 6 weeks.

One Illinois infection control company that has been on the forefront of helping schools, hospitals and institutions battle infectious diseases is EC2, Inc.  “An infected person can be contagious from just before the onset of symptoms until up to three weeks after the symptoms began,” reported Ed Chambers, President of EC2, an indoor environmental and infectious disease prevention specialty firm.  “It’s important with any infectious disease that people avoid unnecessary contact with sick individuals to help prevent its spread.  Proper disinfection and cleaning when these types of outbreaks occur can also make a world of difference.  When sources of outbreaks need to be identified, environmental testing can help pinpoint sources of microbial pathogens,” he continued.

EC2 recently sponsored a public outreach video about whooping cough and Bordetella pertussis.  It can be seen at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RogpNWYeSQs

To learn more about preventing infectious diseases in indoor environments or other indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, please visit http://www.4ec2inc.com, email info@4ec2inc.com or call (815) 703-9000.

About EC2, Inc.

EC2 is a leading provider of environmental consulting and inspection services for clients across the United States.  Based in the Chicago area, the company provides their services to clients ranging from local companies and institutions to international Fortune 500 Corporations.