National outbreak of
whooping cough declared
The Ministry of Heath has declared a
national outbreak of whooping cough, as
a total of 1,315 cases have been reported
since the beginning of 2017.
“Babies under one year old are most vulnerable to the disease
and often catch it from older siblings, their parents or family
members and friends,” says Ministry of Health Director of Public
Health Dr Caroline McElnay. to protect young babies from whooping cough.
“The best way to protect babies is for pregnant women to get
their free immunisation against whooping cough between 28
and 38 weeks of pregnancy, and take their baby for their free
immunisations when they’re six weeks, three months and fi ve
months old.” Any siblings should also be up-to-date with their
immunisations – older children receive free boosters at four
and eleven years of age. If people are unsure whether they or
their children have been immunised, they can talk to their health
practitioner, doctor or nurse. Outbreaks of the disease occur every 3 to 5 years. New
Zealand’s most recent national outbreak spanned from August
2011 to December 2013, with about 11,000 cases notifi ed. A
total of 3 deaths in babies and young children occurred during
this period, with hundreds needing hospital treatment. New
Zealand’s vaccination strategy for whooping cough is aimed at
preventing disease in babies. Whooping cough is less serious in
adults, but is harder to prevent for them as immunity wears off
over time.
“On time immunisation is vitally important,” says Dr McElnay.
“If immunisation is delayed, babies are vulnerable for longer.”
When pregnant women are vaccinated, they pass their
immunity on to their babies, protecting them until they are able
to be immunised at six weeks of age. The Ministry has asked
midwives and general practices to work together to ensure
that pregnant women are referred to general practices for
immunisation.
The Ministry of Health is encouraging people to be extra vigilant
as they gather for Christmas and New Year celebrations, in order
“Anyone with coughs should be especially careful if they are
likely to come in to contact with babies. Most adults don’t realise
they have whooping cough, but it is incredibly contagious.”
Help stop the spread of whooping cough
• Make sure all your children are up to date with their
immunisations.
•Keep your baby away from anyone with a cough.
•If you have a cough yourself, stay away from babies.
•If you’ve got a cough that won’t go away, see your doctor.
Innovative procedure trial at hospital sees Bay
cancer patient swallow easier
For most of us swallowing
is something we do easily
without thinking. But
for patients like Mount
Maunganui man Brian
MacDonald, doing this
has required a general
anaesthetic and an overnight
stay in hospital every couple
of months.
Brian was diagnosed with neck
cancer fi ve years ago, and had his
voice box removed and a six week
course of radiation therapy.
“I’ve never been a smoker, so
fi nding out I had cancer and would
need my voice box removed to stop it
spreading, was a real shock. It was
major surgery, a twelve hour operation
but needed to be done.”
Brian MacDonald (centre) can swallow easier without needing an
overnight stay in hospital due to a new procedure led by Speech and
Language Therapy Team Leader Fiona Hewerdine (left) and ENT Head
and Neck Surgeon Brandon Hitchcock.
Laryngectomy patients like Brian,
often develop stenosis from fi brous
tissue and increasingly over time they
PLEASE RETURN
Any loaned hospital equipment
to Tauranga Hospital’s main
reception.
Thank you.
fi nd it diffi cult to swallow. To address
this, every couple of months some
patients require an oesophageal
dilatation which breaks up the tissue
allowing food to pass through freely.
The benefi t lasts for a limited time, so
they have to have the procedure done
frequently.
Until recently this procedure was
only done by ENT surgeons in theatre
or by Gastroenterologists. Now some
patients are being trained at Tauranga
Hospital by Speech and Language
therapists and the ENT team to do
this procedure at home.
Bay of Plenty District Health
Board (BOPDHB) Speech and
Language Therapy Team Leader
Fiona Hewerdine says, “We’re the
only District Health Board providing
Laryngectomy patients with this
option. The technique is used
internationally and there’s good
evidence supporting it. It saves both
patient and surgeons time. But most
importantly it gives these patients a
sense of empowerment and control
as they can pro-actively manage their
own health.”
Brian was one of the patients who
opted to try the procedure. Every
couple of days he pushes the silicone
tube down his throat, clearing the
passage allowing him to swallow
easily.
“Most people shudder at the thought
of it. But I’m one of those people who
will give things a go, it’s in my nature.”
The semi-retired painter- decorator
has gone from having regular
overnight stays in hospital to just
attending for annual check-ups.
“It’s not the most comfortable
procedure, but it’s better than having
a general anaesthetic every couple of
months. And I feel more in control of
my health.”
The self oesophageal dilatation
procedure is offered to all
laryngectomy patients who want to try
it at home.