Latest reports, up to the end of August place the number of reported whooping cough (pertussis) cases in the state of California at 3,311, a seven-fold increase over the same period in 2009 when the figure reached 501 cases, says the California Department of Public Health. Health authorities estimate a state rate of 9.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The last time there were anywhere near so many cases in California was in 1958, when 3,837 cases were reported. The last time incidence was higher than the present level was in 1963, when it reached 9.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The previous whooping cough peak was in 2005 with 3,182 reported cases, authorities inform.
Of the 177 patients who have been hospitalized so far, 106 (60%) were infants aged under three months, and 132 (75%) were babies aged under 6 months.
Of the 8 deaths so far reported, 7 were infants aged less than 2 months at time of disease onset (they had not received the vaccine). One of the deceased had been born prematurely, at 28 weeks, became infected at 2 months of age and received the first dose of DTaP 11 days prior to disease onset.
Among infants aged less than 6 months, the incident rate is 168 cases per 100,000, in children aged 7-9 years it is 28 cases per 100,000, and in children/adolescents aged 10-18 years it is 21 cases per 100,000.
Other states have also reported an increase in whooping cough (pertussis) cases. So far, California is the only state reporting such a state-wide disease.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough is an extremely contagious respiratory disease, caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The patient typically has an uncontrollable and violent cough, which may cause breathing difficulties.
After fits of several coughs, the whooping cough patient will often need to take deep breaths which can make a whooping sound. Pertussis coughing fits can last for up to 10 weeks or more; hence its nickname, the 100 day cough.
Infants and young children are especially susceptible to complications of whooping cough. Very young babies are more vulnerable to the fatal complications of the diseases.
The best way to protect yourself form pertussis is to
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), there are 30-50 million cases of pertussis and about 300,000 deaths per year worldwide.
Since the 1980s, the number of reported cases of pertussis in the USA has been increasing, especially among 10-19 year olds and infants aged less than 6 months.
Over 50% of babies less than 1 year old who become infected need to be hospitalized.
Sources: CDC, California Department of Public Health.
Written by Christian Nordqvist