KDHE Home - News 1999 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mike Heideman, 785-296-1529
State Health Agency Endorses DOC Pertussis Effort
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment today expressed its support of the Department of Corrections in its effort to control the spread of whooping cough in the state correctional facility in Norton County.
"We are confident the DOC is taking the appropriate measures to deal with this problem," said State Epidemiologist Gianfranco Pezzino, M.D. "They have been most thorough in following through with all of our recommendations."
Pezzino said there have been no new confirmed or suspected cases reported to KDHE since Tuesday. DOC medical staff have been giving medicines to corrections employees to reduce their chance of spreading whooping cough; as well as actively screening inmates for signs of the disease. So far, whooping cough has not been detected within the inmate population. Active surveillance among both inmates and staff remains in place to detect any new cases.
KDHE, DOC, and the Norton County Health Department continue to work together to limit the spread of the disease.
-30-