Whooping Cough in California on the Rise

[CAL/AAEM News Service]

Whooping Cough in California on the Rise

Source: California Healthline (http://www.californiahealthline.org)
Date: September 20, 2005

 
The number of reported cases of whooping cough this year in California is
almost three times the number reported in 2004, consistent with a national
trend, the AP/Modesto Bee reports. The state has confirmed 1,276 cases and four
infant deaths through August, compared with 450 cases and two infant deaths for
the same period last year (AP/Modesto Bee, 9/20).

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection caused by the
Bordatella pertussis bacteria. It "was once one of the most common childhood
diseases" and is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to
the Contra Costa Times.

The disease is most common among children but can occur in people of any age.
One-third of whooping cough cases in California this year have involved
children less than one year old, 80% of whom required hospitalization
(Kleffman, Contra Costa Times, 9/20).

Celia Woodfill, an epidemiologist with the Department of Health Services, said,
"The general consensus is that the increased number of cases is due to better
awareness and increased testing." She added, "When the health department finds
one case, it keeps investigating" (Piller, Los Angeles Times, 9/20).

Most infants are given immunizations against pertussis at two, four, six and 12
months old, but protection wears off once a child reaches adolescence. The
federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently recommended that
all adolescents receive a booster shot against the disease (Griffith,
Sacramento Bee, 9/20). 

For more information, please visit: 
http://www.californiahealthline.org/index.cfm?Action=dspItem&itemID=114805



Cyrus Shahpar & Brian Potts 
Managing Editors, CAL/AAEM News Service
University of California, Irvine

The CAL/AAEM Archives are available at: http://maillists.uci.edu/mailman/public/calaaem/



	
		
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