Washington confirmed whooping cough cases at levels not seen since 1940s
May 31, 2012, 6:10 AM | Updated: 7:14 am
With whooping cough cases at numbers not seen in 60 years, Washington state health officials are urging people to get vaccinated. (AP Photo/file)
(AP Photo/file)
The confirmed number of whooping cough cases in Washington state is at levels not seen in over 60 years.
“Every three to five years we have some increases in our number of whooping cough in the state, but they have not been in this kind of number since the 1940s,” says Washington State Health Secretary Mary Selecky.
Selecky says there have been 1,947 cases of whooping cough reported in the first five months of 2012.
“Typically we get 500 cases in a year. Last year we ended the year with more than 900 cases.”
Officials believe Washington state could see as many as 3,000 cases by year’s end.
Pertussis is known as whooping cough because of the “whooping” sound people often make while gasping for air after a coughing fit.
A highly contagious bacterial disease, it starts off like a cold but leads to severe coughing that can last for weeks. In rare cases, it can be fatal.
Health officials are urging Washington residents to get vaccinated.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
