Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND -The Barton County Health Department has been in daily contact with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment throughout the recent whooping cough/ pertussis outbreak.

Shelly Schneider, the Health Department’s Director, is confident that the prevention and control recommendations they have implemented will work to slow and eventually stop the spread of the disease in the community.

Schneider said her staff has been working overtime to keep on top of everything. “Since Friday we have had two new positive pertussis tests in the county,” she said.

The two confirmed cases were found in children.

The KDHE has notified Barton County Health Department that in addition to pertussis, several individuals have tested positive for influenza and Parainfluenza. If you do test positive for pertussis there is an antibiotic.

“Because it is a bacterial infection,” said Schneider. “You need to seek medical attention so we make sure we are treating you appropriately.”

Symptomatic children or adults must be isolated for five days following initiation of antibiotic therapy. If untreated, the period of isolation is 21 days,” she said.