Originally published September 27 2005
California experiences large increase in whooping cough cases
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Whooping cough, a severe coughing illness that can be deadly for young children, is on the rise in California and nationwide, and the state of California has seen four infant deaths and 1,276 cases of whooping through August of this year, compared to two infant deaths and 450 reported cases during the same period last year.
California is seeing a dramatic increase in pertussis, or whooping cough, mirroring a national trend, state health officials announced Monday.
Through August of this year, four infants have died in the state and 1,276 cases have been reported.
Once one of the most common childhood diseases, whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria.
The disease dropped off sharply in the United States after a vaccine became available in the 1940s.
At first, the symptoms seem similar to a common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and dry cough.
But the disease often progresses into severe coughing spells that may last for a minute or longer and tend to occur at night.
Less often, the disease causes bleeding, swelling or inflammation of the brain, leading to seizures, mental retardation or death.
The four infants who died were all younger than 2 months old and had not had their first pertussis vaccination, said Celia Woodfill, an epidemiologist for the state immunization branch.
As part of the standard immunization schedule, federal officials recommend children have four doses of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, or DTaP, vaccine at age 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 12 to 15 months.
It provides little or no protection five to 10 years later.
As a result, many older children and adults have little or no immunity and may spread the disease without realizing it.
Mirroring the state trend, Contra Costa County has seen its reported cases jump, from 14 in 2002, 12 in 2003 and 12 in 2004, to 31 cases so far this year.
"We've heightened the awareness among providers about the need to report," said Linda Frank, chief of disease surveillance for Alameda County.
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