LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — The number of whooping cough cases in the Southland and throughout California has reached epidemic proportions, state health officials said Friday. The California Department of Public Health said in a statement released Friday that more than 800 cases of pertussis have been reported over the past two weeks. As of June 10, there have been 3,458 cases of whooping cough — more than in all of 2013. KNX 1070′s Tom Reopelle reports health officials say more than 85 percent of those who have contracted pertussis all had preventative shots.
“The vaccine, while it’s very effective when it’s obtained following the first year, each year thereafter, the effectiveness decreases,” said Dr. Wilma Wooten with San Diego County Health and Human Services. “That’s why we’re seeing the infections.” However, the number of overall pertussis cases would increase dramatically statewide if fewer people had been vaccinated, Wooten added. The infection is cyclical and peaks every three to five years. In 2010, a whooping cough epidemic killed 10 infants in the state. Infants are most susceptible to the disease, so parents are encouraged to vaccinate their children as soon as possible. This year, two infant deaths have been reported.
Whooping cough begins with cold-like symptoms and can progress to severe coughing fits. ...
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/06/13/... Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breathes which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age.
The best way to protect against pertussis is immunization.
http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/
Posted By: Jeni Fa
Tuesday, June 17th 2014 at 1:18PM
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