National Little League officials have eliminated four south Whidbey Island teams from post-season All-Star tournament play due to concerns over the spread of whooping cough.
The decision was made Wednesday afternoon. It follows a request from Dr. Roger Case, Island County’s health officer, to discontinue the competition because of concerns over the rapid spread of the disease on the island.
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is very contagious. It can be serious for infants and can be debilitating for older children and adults.
Approximately 18 teams were initially involved in the post- season competition. Little League officials decided to eliminate the four teams from south Whidbey, where most of the confirmed whooping cough cases have been reported.
“We think the Little League tournament is important, but the health issues of the community certainly outweighs winning and losing ball games,” said Lance Van Auken, a spokesman for Little League Baseball and Softball.
Chris Nelson, South Whidbey Little League vice president, said he is upset with the decision to eliminate only teams from his area.
“This is absurd what they’re doing to these 52 boys,” he said of the members of the four affected teams. “Their dreams have been shattered.”
The disease has been reported throughout the island, he said. “It’s not just a south Whidbey epidemic.”
Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases of whooping cough in Island County increased by three cases Wednesday. The total number of people diagnosed with the disease has now risen to 25.
“I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see that number double over the next week to 10 days,” Case said.
Typically, only five to 10 cases are reported in Island County each year, he said.
Case said people who aren’t fully immunized against the disease should avoid public gatherings until the outbreak of whooping cough subsides.
Adults should receive an immunization every 10 years, he said.
Due to the rapid spread of whooping cough among youngsters, particularly those on the southern part of the island, Case’s request to discontinue the tournament was sent to Little League’s international headquarters in Pennsylvania on Wednesday.
After the organization made its decision, Case briefly considered allowing one of the four teams — made up of 13- and 14-year-old boys — to play if tests proved that none of them had the disease.
By late Wednesday afternoon, Case was told that the state Health Department laboratory could not turn around the tests quickly enough for the results to be ready before the team played, even if the competition was delayed until Tuesday morning.
For this reason, none of the four south Whidbey teams can play in the tournament.
Kenneth Tyler, president of the North Whidbey Little League, said he has been involved with Little League on Whidbey Island for 30 years. “This is a first,” he said of eliminating four teams from the competition because of a disease outbreak.
Tyler said he was disappointed with the decision but understands it.
“We’re using a broad brush,” he said. “We may have teams and kids who aren’t infected, but they’re being eliminated. I guess it’s what they have to do to make sure this thing doesn’t spread any worse.”
Twenty-one other tournament games will continue, with the games scheduled in Oak Harbor and Burlington through the weekend, he said.
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
Pertussis symptoms
Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes coughing and gagging with little or no fever. The disease starts with cold symptoms, such as a runny nose and cough. Sometime in the first two weeks, episodes of severe cough develop and that can last one to two months.
An infected person has cough episodes that may end in vomiting or cause a “whoop” sound when the person tries to breathe in.
Children 12 months and younger are the most vulnerable. Complications may include pneumonia, convulsions and, in rare cases, brain damage or death.
Serious complications are less likely in older children and adults.
Source: Island County Public Health
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