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Pertussis outbreak in Florida highlights outbreak risk in vaccine-averse communities
An outbreak of pertussis in a school and religious community in Florida demonstrates the challenges of protecting vaccine-averse communities against vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, according to a recent MMWR report.
In August 2013, Bordetella pertussis was identified in an unimmunized child attending a charter school in a religious community in Columbia County, Florida. The community was averse to health care and vaccinations, according to researchers. Kindergarten immunization records showed only 15% of 34 students received the primary vaccine series and only 5% of seventh grade students had received Tdap vaccine.
Three days later, two additional students were confirmed to have pertussis. As a result, the Florida Department of Health in Columbia County declared a communicable disease emergency.
Following the declaration, 38 additional students were excluded from school because of a cough illness.
The local health department offered prophylaxis or antibiotic treatment at no cost to those without health care coverage, but fewer than five people took advantage of services, according to the CDC report.
Overall, 109 cases of pertussis were identified in the community, of which eight were classified as confirmed pertussis, 61 were probable, and 40 were suspected. Thirty percent of teachers and students had illnesses that met one of the three case definitions.
Rates were highest among the youngest students, at 57.1% among pre-kindergarten students, and decreased as age increased, to 14.3% among eighth grade students.
Controlling vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks in vaccine-averse communities is challenging, according to researchers.
“Local public health agencies need to identify and collaborate with institutions and health care resources to reduce morbidity from vaccine-preventable disease in communities where a substantial number of persons do not have immunity,” the researchers concluded.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
