Whooping cough epidemic grows; vaccine urged
By Bobby Caina Calvan, Sacramento Bee
State health officials today urged more Californians to get vaccinated for whooping cough, as the disease grew to epidemic proportions.
To date, about 1,500 people in California have become infected with pertussis — a five-fold increase from the same time last year. Five infants, all under 3 months old, have died from the disease, and one additional case is under investigation by the California Department of Public Health.
“We are facing what could be the worst year for pertussis that this state has seen in more than 50 years,” said Dr. Gilberto Chavez, the agency’s chief of the state’s Center for Infectious Diseases.
Thanks for printing this, Kae. Most of us wouldn’t have known about it. I was given the shots regularly as a child, but didn’t know it could still be an issue now.
Any demographic nembers to better determine where scarce health dollars can be best used? The far left rascists are winning again. Sad, and journalists have let us down again with their lack of pertinent info.