Washington whooping cough epidemic reaches record levels

A record outbreak of whooping cough continues growing in
Washington state, with health officials warning the
epidemic could be the largest in more than six decades.

The Washington State Department of Health says the 1,008
reported cases as of April 21 is more than reported in all
of 2011, with the state on pace to reach more than 3,000
cases for the year.

“We’re very concerned about the risk to infants,
especially because of how quickly whooping cough is
spreading,” says Secretary of Health, Mary Selecky.
“Whooping cough can be life threatening for infants, and
they’re too young to get enough doses of vaccine to be
protected. That’s why we want everyone else to make sure
they’re vaccinated against whooping cough.”

Officials say 71 infants under a year old have been
reported to have whooping cough. Eighteen of them have
been hospitalized.

“When adults get sick with whooping cough it can be
miserable, but when babies get the disease, they often
must be hospitalized because it’s difficult for them to
feed, sleep, and breathe,” says Dr. Maxine Hayes, State
Health Officer.

Hayes says while there have been no deaths reported this
year, two infants died in both 2010 and 2011 from whooping
cough.

Officials are urging people to get vaccinated, especially
children, pregnant women, and women who recently gave
birth
to prevent the spread from mother to newborn.

The Department of Health says many cases are being
reported in school age children, and while many received
vaccines when they were younger, the vaccine wears off
over time and requires a booster shot.

Officials say most health insurance carriers cover the
whooping cough vaccine, and vaccines are available to all
Washington children under 19 -years-old through health
care
provider offices participating in the state’s Childhood
Vaccine Program.