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March 18, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Whooping Cough Outbreak May Be Slowing"

Associated Press (www.ap.org) (03/15/02)

In Arkansas, Sandra Snow--the director of the department for communicable disease and immunization--believes the whooping cough outbreak in the state is slowing down.  As of last week, 948 whooping cough cases had been recorded in 46 Arkansas counties since September--the largest whooping cough outbreak since a vaccine became available in the 1940s.  Health officials said they are continuing to monitor all the reported cases as well as the individuals who were in close contact with the patients.  The causes of the outbreak are still being investigated.

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