Washington state on track for major pertussis epidemic
The 1,132 confirmed cases reported year to date through April 28 already surpasses the 961 recorded for all of 2011, though that figure included two infant deaths, Church said.
But it pales in comparison to a 2010 epidemic that hit California, which counted more than 9,000 cases, including 10 infant deaths.
Proportionately, however, 3,000 cases would be a much greater tally for Washington, with a population of about 6.7 million people compared to more than 37 million in California.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Symptoms
Symptoms appear 6 to 21 days (average 7-10 days) after exposure to an infected person.
Pertussis may start with cold symptoms or a dry cough followed by episodes of severe coughing. Gagging or vomiting may occur after severe coughing spells. Cough may be worse at night. The person may look and feel healthy between coughing episodes. Fever is absent or mild.
Immunized school children, adolescents, and adults often have milder illness than young children.
Infants with pertussis may not develop a severe cough. They may only have a mild cough, decreased feeding, and may have difficulty breathing or turn bluish.
Church said Washington state’s relatively high rate of vaccine exemptions allowed for school-aged children, which stands at 6 percent, “might be part of the puzzle,” but other factors remain unknown.
For now, Washington is the hardest hit state in the country, though pertussis outbreaks also have been reported in Oregon, Idaho and a few New England states, Church said.
###
(Reuters)