Clay Today staff
GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Upper respiratory illnesses are making their way around Clay County and health department officials say residents need to take precautions.
Whooping cough, also known as Pertussis, has been confirmed in a Clay County resident and several residents were exposed to a Duval County resident with the illness, said Nancy Mills, county Health Department administrator.
H1N1 flu and respiratory syncytia virus (RSV) also are increasing in the area, she said.
"We want our residents to know what’s going around and how to protect themselves from becoming sick," she said.
Whooping cough is easily spread person-to-person through close contact with respiratory droplets. The illness can last for many weeks and is typically seen in children that have not been vaccinated for the disease.
The symptoms include spasms of severe coughing, whooping, and vomiting. Major complications are most common among infants and young children and include hypoxia, apnea, pneumonia, seizures, encephalopathy, and malnutrition.
There is a vaccine for Pertussis which is given to children called DTaP. However, recent data shows that the protection the vaccine gives a person declines with age and infected adults can spread the illness to unvaccinated children.
People should check with their doctor or local health departments about the availability and cost of these vaccinations.
"We strongly recommend that adults with young children in their families, including parents of newborns and friends and family members of pregnant women get a shot of TDaP to protect these vulnerable young children," Mills said.
H1N1 flu also is still in Clay County, Mills said.
"We are still finding laboratory confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in Clay County, so it is not too late to get vaccinated against this illness."
The health department is offering free H1N1 shots and mist at their Bear Run clinic, 329 Bear Run Blvd., Building B, Orange Park on:
* Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Call for an appointment at (904) 213-3202)
* Saturday, Feb. 20, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.. No appointment is needed.
Mills said there is an increase in RSV illness in the area. RSV normally occurs November through April and has symptoms that include cough, sneezing runny nose, fever and decreased appetite.