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.

------------------------------------------------------------

April 29, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Whooping Cough Cases Up in County"

Riverside Press-Enterprise (www.pe.com) (04/26/02) P. B12; Beeman, Douglas E.

Six employees of a Riverside County, Calif., hospital developed pertussis as a surge of the disease struck residents throughout the county during the first quarter of the year.  According to the County Department of Community Health, nine residents--including three babies--were affected by the disease, but no cases were reported in neighboring San Bernardino, and state officials say there is no evidence of a broader outbreak in progress.  Barbara Cole, director of the Riverside County disease control program, said it is unusual to see pertussis affecting adults; however, she noted pertussis can affect adults who have never had it or were not vaccinated against it. California epidemiologist Celia Woodfill said since the vaccine was introduced during the mid-1940s, pertussis cases in the state dropped from about 21,000 in 1941 to just 75 cases in 1976, but a slow increase in the disease has been noted in recent decades. Some experts speculate the increased emergence may because physicians may be able to better detect the disease in adults and the fact that immunity decreases over time.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.