The problem of Bordetella

In the Western press, there are always two coalitions: the coalition controlling the government, and the opposition coalition. In the UK and the US, there are only two parties, so each coalition is a single party. Elsewhere, there are many parties, but, a fortiori, only two coalitions: the one in power and the one out of power. Which means that the press for coalition A always says bad things about coalition B, and the press for coalition B always says bad things about coalition A. But neither dares say that the entire country is on the wrong path, mainly because of self-censorship, since the press fears both the government, and the fact that only the lunatic fringe will pay for any publication that doesn't say the nation is doing GREAT, so economics dictates against criticizing the entire country.

Anyway, the Western press has reported outbreaks of Bordetella (which sounds to me like a bad luncheon meat).

In the Eastern press, the self-censorship means they don't dare say anything negative at all. So, when China had a terrible flu epidemic, the Chinese newspapers all reported that, thanks to the proactive measures taken by the government, there was absolutely no flu at all in China. The Chinese all put on protective masks as soon as they read that article, knowing that an article that said there was no flu in China meant there was a terrible epidemic, and the government had no idea what to do about it.

Here in Dubai, there seems to be an epidemic of Bordetella. This bacteria causes a chronic cough, a cough so bad the victims have a hard time breathing and often vomit. But nothing about Bordetella has appeared in any of the local newspapers.

Everyone in Dubai was vaccinated against Bordetella as a child, but the vaccine wears off, and anyone over 30 might be susceptible. A Bordetella infection can be fatal to infants, which is why they are all vaccinated. It can also be fatal to the elderly. And doctors have a hard time diagnosing Bordetella, since it is a childhood disease, and all children have been vaccinated, so it isn't supposed to occur at all.

For anyone with a terrible cough, a cough so bad they cannot breath and sometimes vomit, there is a 91% chance that the cough is caused by Bordetella. And since Bordetella is a gram-negative bacteria, it is immune to most antibiotics. Only the mycins seem to work.

The international authorities say that all those exposed to Bordetella should immediately go on a 14 day treatment with Erythromycin to prevent an infection.

Anyone who has developed a Bordetella infection should take a -mycin antibiotic within one week. Erythromycin is the cheapest antibiotic that is effective, but it requires taking four pills a day for a fortnight. A newer alternative is Azithromycin, which requires just one dose a day for five days.

And a week after developing a Bordetella infection, the cough is embedded so that antibiotics are no longer capable of curing the cough. And the early stages are so mild, most victims don't bother going to see a physician until the disease is embedded and relief from the cough is very difficult.

But, before taking antibiotics, the victim is contagious, and can give Bordetella to others. Five days after starting antibiotics, the victim ceases to be contagious and so can no longer spread the disease.

So, all those who think they might have Bordetella, please go see your physician. And if your culture says you do have Bordetella, insist on a -mycin antibiotic.