Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) cases are surging in the US, with over 25,000 cases recorded so far this year. This is the second year in a row with higher than usual case counts. States experiencing especially bad outbreaks include Texas, California, Florida and Oregon, as well as other states such as Louisiana, Idaho and South Dakota. Steadily declining vaccination rates and waning immunity are two of biggest causes of the disease’s resurgence.
Babies not old enough to get fully vaccinated face the highest risk from whooping cough. Whooping cough is an extremely contagious illness caused by the bacteria known as Bordetella pertussis. Approximately 20% of infants with whooping cough develop pneumonia, and about 1% of these babies die. The CDC recommends that pregnant women receive a Tdap vaccine during pregnancy to ensure newborns have some protection before being born.
Full Story: KFF Health News, Yahoo, HealthDay
