Imunization Newsbriefs

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March 9, 2001

“Whooping Cough Static in Most of State”

Arizona Republic (www.azcentral.com) (03/08/01) P. B4

According to health officials in Arizona, whooping cough cases have risen sharply this year in Mohave and Pima counties, but the remainder of the state appears to be staying largely static compared to last year.  Nevertheless, there is concern that an infant in Maricopa County and another infant in Pinal County died of the disease.  According to Ken Komatsu, infectious disease manager for the Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona does not normally experience whooping cough fatalities.  Komatsu added, however, that at least one of the infants was too young to have been given the initial dosage of the whooping cough vaccine, which is normally given at two months.  So far this year, Mohave County has reported 19 confirmed cases, with another 55 probable cases, while Pima County has reported 130 confirmed cases.  Last year, Mohave County had no cases of whooping cough and Pima County reported 48 cases of the disease.  [Mortality from whooping cough is highest in early infancy; therefore, it is especially important whenever possible to avoid exposure throughout the first year of life, and to treat infants exposed with antibiotics as soon as possible following exposure.]

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