HHS HealthBeat (August 22, 2012)

More whooping cough

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Whooping cough is making a comeback. The highly contagious bacterial disease can be prevented by vaccination. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says we may be on track for the worst whooping cough year in five decades. CDC’s Sarah Meyer:

“Rates of whooping cough, or pertussis, have continued to increase since reaching historic lows in the 1970s. By mid-July 2012, nearly 18,000 cases have been reported in the U.S.”

Besides getting children vaccinated, CDC recommends adolescents and adults – especially pregnant women – get a booster dose since they may no longer be immune. This can protect themselves and the infants they care for.

Whooping cough can be serious for people of all ages, but it is especially dangerous, even sometimes fatal, for infants.  

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: August 22, 2012