Case Investigation of Pertussis in Construction Camp, Prawet District, Bangkok, 12 - 26 February 2013

Abstract

Background: On 11^th February 2013, Bangkok Health Center 22 was notified by Communicable Diseases Control Division, Department of Health, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration that a pertussis patient admitted at Chulalongkorn Hospital. An investigation was conducted from 12^th-26^th February 2013 in order to confirm diagnosis, determine the extent of the outbreak and recommend control measure.
Methods: We reviewed treatment records and conducted active case finding in a construction camp in Prawet district, Bangkok. A suspected case was defined as a person who developed at least two of the following symptoms such as fever, cough and inspiratory whooping cough between January 1^st and February 15^th, 2013. A laboratoryconfirmed case was identified by nasopharyngeal swab that revealed positive RT-PCR for pertussis. Coverage of EPI (Expanded Program for Immunization) vaccines was also surveyed among children in this camp.
Results: A total of 2 suspected cases were a father and his son aged 28 days old. Both of them were laboratory confirmation for pertussis. The father’s symptoms seemed to be mild, while the son required hospitalization and both were finally recovered. Regarding the survey of vaccine coverage, of totally 15 children, 12 (80%) were found to be incomplete in EPI vaccination.
Conclusion: An outbreak of pertussis in a construction camp was confirmed. This disease was probably found to be transmitted from the father to his son. In order to prevent pertussis in the newborns, booster of vaccine among people living with these children should also be promoted.