Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

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January 06, 2003

Note to Readers: NNii has now posted "Detailed information about smallpox, Common questions about smallpox and smallpox vaccine for the general public, and Common questions on smallpox and smallpox vaccine for health care professionals" on its Web site, http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"U.N.: Whooping Cough Threatening 40,000 Children in Northeastern Afghanistan" Associated Press (www.ap.org) (01/05/03); Pitman, Todd

The United Nations announced on Sunday that whooping cough, or pertussis, threatens the lives of 40,000 children in northeastern Afghanistan.  The disease took the lives of over 60 children in the Khwahan district in Badakhshan last November, and now, said David Singh, a spokesman for the U.N. mission in Afghanistan, whooping cough has been reported in Darwaz district, which is north of Khwahan.  U.N. and Afghan health officials flew to Darwaz last week, and they are sending additional vaccines and related supplies to the area.

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