A whooping cough outbreak in California has killed 10 infants. According to health officials, it is the worst outbreak in 60 years. According to CNN.com, “There have been 5,978 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of the disease have been reported in California.” The victims were all under the age of 3 months. Nine of the babies were too young for the vaccine. However, this disease is preventable.
The vaccination for whooping cough is necessary for children and adults who will be in contact with young children or the elderly. According to the Center for Disease Control, some parents choose not to vaccinate. Others didn’t realize they need to have a booster vaccination. The vaccine lasts about five years. The pertussis vaccine is recommended for children when they are 2 months old.
“Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease caused by bacteria that can lead to severe upper respiratory infections. The bacteria is spread in tiny droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Initial symptoms are very similar to a cold, but a week or two later, a violent cough develops.”
According to the CDC, “about 1 in 5 infants with pertussis get pneumonia, and about 1 in 100 will have convulsions. In rare cases (1 in 100), pertussis can be deadly, especially in infants.” It is important to watch symptoms, especially in young children. If a child is having trouble breathing, they need to see a doctor immediately. Antibiotics only work during the early stages of whooping cough.
If you’ve already had the vaccine, you can take additional steps to prevent the spread of disease:
- Encourage frequent handwashing.
- Cover your mouth and nose with the inner elbow and not hands when sneezing and coughing.
- Stay home from work, school or child care when ill.
Click Here to Find Out How to Prevent the Spread of Whooping Cough
