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Officials Issue Health Alert as Pertussis Cases Rise

07/13/2010

Public health officials in Columbus, Ohio, have issued a public health alert after doctors in the central part of the state noted a significant rise in pertussis cases. Columbus Public Health and Franklin County officials have asked physicians to actively monitor any potential cases of pertussis, and they are calling for people to get vaccinations or booster shots against the illness. As of July 12, there were 135 confirmed cases in Franklin County, compared to 198 confirmed cases in all of 2009. There have been 224 cases reported in all so far this year. Anyone with a cough for longer than two weeks should consult their healthcare provider. Starting in the fall, Ohio law will require pertussis immunizations for schoolchildren entering the seventh grade.

In This Section

Diseases Prevented by Vaccines

State Requirements

Anthrax	Diphtheria	Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib)
Hepatitis A	Hepatitis B	Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Influenza	Japanese Encephalitis	Lyme Disease
Measles	Meningococcal	Mumps
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)	Pneumococcal Disease	Polio
Rabies	Rotavirus	Rubella
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)	Smallpox	Tetanus
Tuberculosis	Typhoid Fever	Varicella (Chickenpox)
Yellow Fever