The Barton County Health Department has been in daily contact with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment throughout the county’s pertussis outbreak.

Shelly Schneider, the Health Department’s Director, is confident that the prevention and control recommendations they have implemented will work to slow and eventually stop the spread of the disease in the community.

Talking to her yesterday, Schneider said her staff has been working overtime to keep on top of everything.

Shelly Schneider Audio

The two confirmed pertussis cases were found in children this past weekend. The KDHE has notified Barton County Health Department that in addition to pertussis, several persons have tested positive for influenza and parainfluenza. If you do test positive for pertussis there is an antibiotic.

Shelly Schneider Audio

Symptomatic children and / or adults must be isolated for five days following initiation of antibiotic therapy. If untreated, the period of isolation is 21 days from the cough onset.