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November 2, 2001

“Whooping Cough Outbreak Spreading”

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (11/02/01)

In central Virginia, an outbreak of whooping cough is getting worse.  So far, there have been eight confirmed cases of the disease in Greene, 11 in Orange County, 33 in Albemarle County and Charlottesville, and almost 40 cases in Madison County.  Most of the people infected with the disease have been school-age children.  According to Erik Hewlett, a University of Virginia professor of medicine and pharmacology, identified cases generally represent only 10 percent to 20 percent of actual cases of the disease.

“More Cases Detected”

Associated Press (www.ap.org) (11/02/01)

Over 225 cases of whooping cough have been confirmed in Arkansas, say state health officials.  The outbreak has occurred in at least 23 counties, with the highest number of cases in Pike and Pulaski counties.  This is the largest whooping cough outbreak in Arkansas since 1963.

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