| "WHOOPING COUGH" OUTBREAK
We at Minnie Hamilton Health System have been made aware of several counties in the state of West Virginia that have been affected by a Pertussis outbreak.
Pertussis, otherwise known as "whooping cough", is highly contagious and spread in the air through cough. This disease does affect all ages, and can cause death in infants.
Everyone is at risk, if not immunized. Most people have not had a booster shot for pertussis since childhood. If you have been exposed to someone with whooping cough, or think you may have whooping cough, please see your primary care provider.
Signs and symptoms of whooping cough are: cough lasting greater than 2 weeks, "whooping" sound with inspiration, vomiting after coughing. If you are unsure of your vaccination status for pertussis, please contact your healthcare provider.
Reference: Health & Human Resources Bureau for Public Health. (2015). Pertussis outbreaks in five West Virginia Counties: Health advisory number WV0107-11-04-15.
The health care providers at Minnie Hamilton Health System would like to address the recent recall of Auvi-Q, the talking epi-pen. This device was recalled due to potential concerns regarding unreliable dosing.
The pharmacy that provided this device should be contacting you in regards to this recall, but please, if you were prescribed and given one of these devices and have not been contacted, please contact your pharmacy as soon as possible.
| 
