The California Department of Public Health declared an epidemic of the disease, as the number of whooping cough cases in the state rose to 3,458 last week.
As of June 10, Dr. Ron Chapman, director of CDPH, reported that there were 3,458 patients diagnosed with pertussis (whooping cough) which exceeded the number of cases reported last year. In just a span of two weeks, 800 new cases were reported. In California, the last peak of the whooping cough epidemic happened on 2010, so it is likely that the next peak will happen this year.
The whooping cough is considered a recurrent disease and its peak may happen once every three to five years. Symptoms vary depending on the patient's age. Children affected may suffer from extended coughing episodes while young infants may not have the apparent symptom, coughing. In infants, whooping cough manifests itself with purple or reddish discoloration of the child's face. For adults, coughing that lasts for a few weeks could be observed.
The Tdap vaccination given to pregnant women is one of the most effective ways in protecting children who are too young to receive the vaccine. Tdap vaccination should be given to pregnant women during their third trimester.
Vaccination should also be administered to toddlers, teenagers and adults to protect them from the disease.
"Preventing severe disease and death in infants is our highest priority," said Dr. Chapman in a press release. "We urge all pregnant women to get vaccinated. We also urge parents to vaccinate infants as soon as possible."
Infants who cannot receive vaccinations yet are the most vulnerable to whooping cough. About 75 percent of all hospitalizations due to the disease were less than four months old. Two infants have already died due to whooping cough.
The health department is coordinating with other agencies such as media outlets, schools, and local health divisions to help inform the public about the disease and to convince them to get a vaccination.
