Thread: Whooping cough cases top 6,000 in California UPDATED

Whooping cough cases top 6,000 in California

October 26, 2010 | 6:53 pm

More than 6,000 Californians have been infected with whooping cough, according to updated totals released by the Department of Public Health.

As of late Tuesday there were 6,257 cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, in California, an increase of 279 cases from the previous week. The epidemic is the largest to strike California since 1950, when 6,613 cases were reported.

Put another way, there are 16 cases of pertussis for every 100,000 people in California, the highest incidence since 1959, when there was a rate of 16.1 cases per 100,000 people.

Of the 10 who have died from pertussis so far this year, all were infants younger than three months, and nine of them were Latino. Health officials have previously said that Latino babies are overrepresented in part because they are more likely to live in larger households, with more opportunities to be exposed to someone with whooping cough.

Newborn babies are at highest risk of dying from whooping cough, and are usually infected by a coughing family member. Health officials say the only way to protect newborns is to give pertussis vaccinations to everyone who will have contact with the baby, creating a cocoon around those too young to be immunized. Anyone who is coughing should avoid contact with newborns.

-- Rong-Gong Lin II

Related:

Some elderly patients can’t get whooping cough vaccine

Whooping cough Q&A

Whooping cough immunization information

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If you have had a tetanus shot you have probably had the whooping cough vaccine. The tetanus shots includes tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). You need a booster every 10 years.

Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (T-dap)

From Healthwise

Pronunciation: TET a nus, dif THEER ee a, and ay SEL yoo ler per TUS iss
Brand: Adacel (Tdap), Boostrix (Tdap)

What is the most important information I should know about this vaccine?

In most cases, tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine is given in only one dose. Follow your doctor's instructions about receiving a booster dose if needed.

You can still receive a vaccine if you have a cold or fever. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.

You should not receive this vaccine a second time if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. If you ever need to receive the vaccine again, you will need to tell your doctor if the first shot caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

What is tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)?

Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are serious diseases caused by bacteria.

Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the nose, throat, and airway. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, or death.

Pertussis (whooping cough) causes coughing so severe that it interferes with eating, drinking, or breathing. These spells can last for weeks and can lead to pneumonia, seizures (convulsions), brain damage, and death.

Tetanus (lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to "locking" of the jaw so the victim cannot open the mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads to death in about 1 out of 10 cases.

Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through a cut or wound.

The diphtheria, tetanus acellular, and pertussis adult vaccine (also called T-dap) is used to help prevent these diseases in people who are ages 10 to 64 years old. Most people in this age group require only one Tdap shot for protection against these diseases.

This vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the bacteria, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Like any vaccine, the T-dap vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... aths-.html

Whooping cough cases set new county record

By Janet Lavelle
Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 6:50 p.m.

Whooping cough continues to spread across San Diego and California, in a statewide epidemic that has killed 10 infants, including two in San Diego County.

A record 743 cases have been confirmed so far this year in the county — more than twice the previous record of 371 cases in 2005 — according to County Health and Human Services Agency officials.

For information about pertussis, free vaccine clinics and a pertussis study that federal officials are conducting, call the county Immunization Branch at (866) 358-2966, or visit www.sdiz.org

Statewide, 6,257 confirmed, probable and suspected cases have been identified so far this year, according to the California Department of Public Health. The number is the highest since 1950.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial illness that often resembles a cold in its early stages in adults and older children, although its symptoms can be more subtle in infants, who are most susceptible to its life-threatening potential. The illness is treated with antibiotics.

State health officials urge everyone to get a vaccine or booster shot to avoid spreading the infection.

The recommendation is for children to get one dose of DTaP vaccine at ages 2 months; 4 months; 6 months; 15 -18 months and 4 to-6 years. Everyone age 10 or older, and children ages 7-9 who did not get the earlier shots, should get a Tdap booster vaccine.

In the past week, 13 new cases have been reported in areas where children may have been exposed to the disease. The exposure locations are:

All Saints Preschool in Vista; Miramar Ranch Elementary School, Walker Elementary, Zamorano Elementary, Knox Elementary School PreK program, and Patrick Henry High School in the San Diego Unified School District; Poway High and Creekside Elementary in the Poway Unified School District; Magnolia Elementary in the Carlsbad Unified School District; Central Elementary in the South Bay Union School District; MCRD Child Development Center in San Diego; Little Steps Christian Preschool in La Jolla; Montessori East County Preschool in Lakeside; Hickory Head Start in Escondido.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... ty-record/