6 new whooping cough cases confirmed

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)- The Rhode Island Department of Health has confirmed six new cases of whooping cough. The students affected attend Stony Lane Elementary School, Davisville Middle School, and Hamilton Elementary School.

Experts are advising people to visit their primary care physicians in order to be vaccinated for the virus.

Although the North Kingstown school district closed for the summer on June 19th, the first case was confirmed on July 2nd.

• Whooping cough found in Barrington
• Whooping cough found in Middletown

Due to the pertussis or whooping cough findings, HEALTH officials have set up vaccination clinics across the state.

HEALTH will hold two vaccination clinics for the public on Thursday, July 19, and Monday, July 23, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the North Kingstown High School cafeteria located at 150 Fairway Drive.

Those without health insurance will be vaccinated at no cost.

Michael Fine, M.D., director of HEALTH states, "The best protection against pertussis is vaccination. Any child who is not up to date on his or her pertussis vaccination should be vaccinated, and we encourage all adults to get a Tdap vaccine as well.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises anyone age 10 or older who has not previously received a Tdap vaccine and lives in North Kingstown or Jamestown to get vaccinated. It is especially important for the following individuals to be vaccinated:

• North Kingstown and Jamestown students ages 10 and older who need to receive Tdap (This will meet the Grade 7 vaccination requirement)
• Pregnant women and anyone in their household (Pregnant women should be at least 20 weeks into the gestation period)
• Anyone in close contact with or caring for an infant less than one-year-old
• Anyone with a weakened immune system or other chronic disease (such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, etc.) and anyone in their household
• Professionals, including summer camp staff, school staff, daycare workers, and healthcare workers
• All adults, including those ages 65 and older

Experts say young infants should be kept away from anyone with a cough, and infants with a cough should be seen by a doctor right away, as they are most likely to experience severe pertussis illness.

Those with suspected or confirmed diagnoses should stay out of work, school, or childcare until they have been seen by a doctor or on antibiotics for at least five days.

For symptoms of whooping cough visit www.CDC.gov.