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September 4, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Whooping Cough Puts State on Alert"

Houston Chronicle (www.chron.com) (08/31/02) P. A1; Hopper, Leigh

Health officials in Texas warned parents and physicians last week to be on the lookout for symptoms associated with whooping cough after numerous cases were diagnosed in the state.  At last count, the state health department said the number of cases for whooping cough had reached 725, among them four infant deaths.  Officials are alarmed because the number is almost on par with the record set in 1968, when officials counted 802 cases.  Houston has recorded 46 cases this year alone; of this number, 34 cases involved children age one year or younger.  This statistic concerns health officials because the mortality rate for the disease is especially high in infants.

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