Good Samaritan Issues Alert Regarding Whooping Cough Case

Good Samaritan Hospital has sent out notifications to employees, patients, family members or anyone who might have been in contact with a maturnity unit worker who was diagnosed with pertussis, or whooping cough, to seek immediate treatment.

Jerome Weiner, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at Good Samaritan Hospital, said the worker was confirmed to have pertussis last Thursday, Sept. 30, by the state Department of Health.

"The hospital complied with all recommendations from the Department of Health regarding notification of patients, families, physicians and nurses.  Calls were made Friday, Oct. 1, and Saturday, Oct. 2, in order to inform persons who may have been exposed as to the signs and symptoms of pertussis and to seek prophylactic treatment from their physicians," Wiener said.

Weiner also said that at the time of the notification, the Department of Health confirmed that the employee had completed antibiotic treatment and was ready to return to work. 

Pertussisis is a highly contagious respiratory disease and is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, according to information from the state Department of Health.

Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths, which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age.