Whooping cough epidemic infects more than 900 in California

As of June 15, the California Department of Public Health has confirmed 910 cases of whooping cough, medical name pertussis. Also, five infants, three months of age, have succumbed to the disease.

If the number of illness cases and deaths go uncontrolled in the state, whooping cough outbreak could be the most severe in the last 50 years in California.

Analyzing cases in California counties
Though the illness episodes so far reported are far less than the 3,182 cases and eight deaths in 2005, the numbers are expected to spike in the coming months as the peak season starts in the summers.

So far the Bay Area counties have reported an increase in the number of cases this year.

In Los Angeles County, 148 cases have been confirmed by the director of public health, Dr. Jonathan Fielding.

In Orange County, 55 people are suffering from this highly communicable respiratory infection.

Warning the Californians about the epidemic, Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health said in a statement, “Children should be vaccinated against the disease and parents, family members and caregivers of infants need a booster shot.”

Santa Clara has confirmed 33 cases, up from 25 last year. Contra Costa has reported 42 illness episodes, compared to 18 in 2009.

The health officials in the San Mateo County, reported 37 cases, compared to just eight last year. Further, Santa Cruz County has confirmed 20 cases so far.

Residents urged to get whooping cough jab
With the disease reaching serious proportions in the regions, the residents have been urged to get themselves immunized against pertussis to help stop passing the infection, which is highly contagious.

Warning the Californians about the epidemic, Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health, said in a statement, “Children should be vaccinated against the disease and parents, family members and caregivers of infants need a booster shot.”

The health officials further urged that the DTP vaccine is safe for children, including the young infants, who are most likely to suffer from the infection.

“It's those infants that can become the sickest and at times can require ICU level care and at times there can even be fatalities,” added Dr. David Pugatch, Children’s Hospital Central California.

Children are not protected against the disease unless the age of six months, when they complete the initial three shots of the vaccine.

The vaccine is also safe for pregnant women, who should receive the vaccine during pregnancy, and after birth.

The officials added that the vaccine does not provide lifetime immunity, and one needs to be vaccinated again after a period.

About pertussis
Pertussis, commonly called whooping cough is an infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, a small Gram-negative rod.

Characterized by severe spells of coughing, the disease manifests slowly, and is similar to a mild upper respiratory infection with early symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, and low-grade fever.

If the disease goes unaddressed, it only becomes severe leading to bursts of rapid coughs. During the attack, the individual may become cyanotic (blue coloration of the skin) due to lack of oxygen.

There is also inflammation, and swelling in the laryngeal structures that vibrate during inspiration, thus producing "whooping" sound.

Fever is usually rare throughout the illness. Recovery from the infection is slow and it can take place over several weeks.