SACRAMENTO – California’s
epidemic of pertussis (whooping cough)
shows no signs of slowing, Dr. Mark
Horton, director of the California
Department of Public Health (CDPH),
warned today. As of July 27, the number
of illnesses from the disease this
year had climbed to 2,174, a six-fold
increase from the 349 illnesses reported
for the same period last year. In addition,
a San Diego County infant has become
the seventh to die from pertussis this
year.
“The pertussis epidemic is a
sobering and tragic reminder that diseases
long thought controlled can return
with a vengeance,” Horton said. “We
can protect ourselves and the most
vulnerable in our community by getting
vaccinated today.”
California is on pace to have the
most cases of pertussis reported in
more than half a century. Infants are
having the highest rates at 1.1 case
for every 1,000 infants.
“Because immunity from pertussis
vaccine or disease wears off, Californians—especially
family members and caregivers of infants—should
make sure they get their shots,” Horton
said.
In
addition to the typical series
of five childhood pertussis immunizations,
CDPH recommends an adolescent-adult
pertussis booster vaccine (Tdap)
for
everyone 10 years or older who
has not yet received it, especially: - women
of childbearing age, before,
during, or immediately after
pregnancy, and
- other
people, including household contacts,
caregivers,
and health care workers,
who have contact with pregnant
women or infants.
Children 7-9 years of age who did
not receive all of their routine childhood
shots are recommended to receive a
Tdap booster dose.
The pertussis vaccination series can
begin when an infant is 6 weeks of
age. Infants, however, are not adequately
protected until they received their
first three shots by age 6 months.
The series of shots that most children
receive wears off by the time they
reach middle school.
For new mothers and anyone with close
contact with infants, CDPH is providing
Tdap vaccine at birthing hospitals,
community health centers, Native American
health centers and local health departments.
A typical case of pertussis in children
and adults starts with a cough and
runny nose for one-to-two weeks, followed
by weeks to months of rapid coughing
fits that sometimes ends with a whooping
sound. Fever is rare.
The
diagnosis of pertussis is often delayed
in young infants, whose are
less likely to have a notable cough – caregivers
and health care providers should consider
the possibility of pertussis in infants
with coughs or colds to help in prompt
diagnosis and treatment.
Click
to review the July 27, 2010 county-by-county
rates
Printable
PDF
Click
to hear what
pertussis (whooping
cough sounds
like)
http://www.whoopingcough.net/Whoop-child-slightwhoop.wav
California
Department of
Public Health
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/DEFAULT.aspx
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