U.S. pertussis outbreak worst in decades
The number of pertussis, or whooping cough cases reported in the United States is the most seen in a single year since the late 1950’s.
According to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 34,000 cases of pertussis were reported to CDC through October 27, 2012. 16 pertussis-related deaths have been reported during that same time period.
The majority of deaths continue to occur among infants younger than 3 months of age.
Some of the states with the most pertussis activity this year includes Washington (4,463), Minnesota (3,950) and Wisconsin (4,912).
Pertussis is an endemic (common) disease in the United States, with peaks in disease every 3 to 5 years and frequent outbreaks.
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[…] The US was hit especially hard by pertussis or whooping cough this year. The latest provisional counts from the CDC reveals, as of Dec. 1, there were more than 38,000 cases of pertussis and 16 deaths in 2012. […]