No Whooping Cough outbreak in South Lake Tahoe

Rumors were flying around schools and on social media in South Lake Tahoe this week about a Whooping Cough (pertussis) outbreak at Tahoe Valley Elementary. A 4th grade student became sick with symptoms that resemble pertussis, but that cannot be confirmed for two weeks.

The student is sick, and out of school for the two weeks needed for pertussis test results to come back. In that same 4th grade class one other student, and 19 others at the school, have not been vaccinated but they show no symptoms according to Dr. James Tarwater, Lake Tahoe Unified School District Superintendent. Most who have received their Whooping Cough vaccine cannot get the disease.

Nationwide, three diseases besides Whooping Cough are starting to make a comeback due to parents choosing not to vaccinate their children. Measles is the most prevalent, followed by Mumps and Chicken Pox.

In California, Governor Brown signed SB277 which requires all students in the state's schools to be vaccinated before Kindergarten for Polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP), Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), Hepatitis B, and
Varicella (Chickenpox).

Brown noted that California children can still receive an exemption to the vaccine requirement if a physician concludes there are "circumstances, including but not limited to, family medical history, for which the physician does not recommend immunization."

A growing number of parents had opted to delay or skip vaccines because of concerns over safety. Multiple studies have found vaccines to be safe, with no link to autism or other chronic conditions.

In the Lake Tahoe Unified School District, 300 students are currently not vaccinated. It is now a requirement before entering Kindergarten, but since SB277 is a new law, LTUSD students need to have to vaccines before entering 7th grade. Of those 300, 98 are at South Tahoe High and will not be required to get vaccines unless they attend college where the shots are mandatory.

Dr. Tarwater said enrollment for Kindergarten was down 25 students this year in South Lake Tahoe. He attributes that to the vaccine requirement and parents chose to home school instead.

Tarwater said a note went home to parents today, explaining what is happening.