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May 6, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Babies Facing Disease Threat"

Herald Sun (AU) (www.heraldsun.news.com.au) (05/06/02) P. 23; Barry, Evonne

A new report from the Australian Pediatric Surveillance Unit warns that adults are unknowingly exposing their newborn infants to whooping cough, because they are unaware that as adults, they can still contract the disease.  Over the past two years, nine infants have died from whooping cough in Australia, and the report found that over half of all reported cases are the result of contact with parents.  As a result of the findings, researchers are calling for greater use of adult booster shots. Dr. Peter McIntyre, deputy director of the National Center for Immunization Research, noted that adults should be aware that they, too, can become infected with pertussis, adding that "anyone who is thinking about getting pregnant or who has just had a baby should think seriously about having a booster."

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