Health authorities in Oklahoma are urging its citizens to get vaccinated as it reports the worst whooping cough outbreak in the state in 50 years. At least 66 people so far have developed the disease, officials say. Neighboring state Texas has over 2,229 reported cases. On the west coast, California has already broken the 50 year-old record, with nearly 7,000 reported cases. Ohio has 1,461 reported cases, Michigan 1,165, Minnesota 698 and Pennsylvannia 677.

Oklahoma state Health Department’s communicable disease division director, Laurence Burnsed, said:

    “The fact that we have bordering states that are seeing increases recently, that’s something we’re certainly aware of and are watching very closely.”

Burnsed said it is vital to be careful and get as many people immunized as possible if the State is to avoid a Californian-size epidemic.

While immunization rates in California are 83.4% for young children, in certain population groups only about 20% have been vaccinated.

Adults often forget or simply don’t know that the vaccine wears off in time and booster jabs are needed. If you are not sure, see your doctor.

Even though the vaccine protects only about 70% of people, the other 30% who may become infected will generally have much milder symptoms because of their partial immunization, experts say.

62% of all reported cases in the USA so far this year have occurred in just six states, California, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 21,133 cases have been reported in the whole country so far this year.

Over the last week 21 new cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have been reported in 17 schools in San Diego. In the city alone, over 931 cases have been reported; last year there were only 143 cases. The last time the city had a high whooping cough rate was in 2005, when numbers reached 371.

San Diego health authorities say two infants have died of the disease.

San Diego officials, as well as authorities throughout the USA, are urging people to get vaccinated.

A recent new law will require children aged at least ten years to have the Tdap vaccine in 2011. It is currently only a recommendation. Those who want to start middle school in the city as from next year will have to show proof they are immunized. The Tdap vaccine protects against whooping cough, diphtheria and teanus.

Whooping cough infects approximately 48.5 million people globally, and kills nearly 295,00 of them every year. It is one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable death worldwide. Out of every ten cases, 9 occur in developing countries.

Whooping cough is the only vaccine-preventable infection that is linked to a rising death rate in the United States. In 1996 four people died, rising to 17 in 2001. This year the death toll is expected to be much higher.

Source: Oklahoma Department of Health, CDC.

Written by Christian Nordvist