California calling whooping cough outbreak an epidemic
Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough is an extremely contagious infection which has now been considered an epidemic in California. With a rising number of infections, whooping cough is well on the way to break the 50 year old record which was set in 1958. The last outbreak was five years ago, and claimed 8 lives. Already this year, five infants have died from whooping cough, according to California public health officials.
This infection has come roaring back. The number of cases that are being investigated as or considered whooping cough is already at an unusual 1,510. Officials fear the worst, predicting that this outbreak will take more lives than an outbreak in 1952 which claimed 15 lives. People need to protect themselves. Parents should make sure that their children are current on all shots. Furthermore, all adults should get a booster shot for pertussis as soon as possible. People should contact their county health center for a free shot; at this time California has plenty of shots readily available.
Outbreaks of whooping cough are usually seen every two to five years. Whooping cough is an infection of the respiratory system that is very highly contagious. Symptoms begin that are similar to that of a common cold. You may get a runny nose, fever, a cough, and start sneezing. Then the symptoms progress as the cough develops into a dry, persistent cough. The person infected will have coughing spells lasting for more than a minute. At this time, the person may turn red or even blue in color from coughing so intensely. When the coughing spell is complete, when breathing in, on may notice a whooping sound. The spells of coughing can be rather scary, as it may appear one is gasping for air. Children are usually affected worse than adults, especially those who have not received their complete set of shots for pertussis.
People who notice the above symptoms should be seen by their physician as soon as possible. Cases should be treated promptly to a avoid life threatening situation. 
swine flu from Mexico last year,Whooping cough this year. Illegal immigration is not a RACIAL ISSUE it is a HEALTH ISSUE. What is needed to convince the American public that borders need to be closed and illegals need to be deported? The modern day typhoid Mary to cross the border? The plague? At least the Arizona state government gets it. Watch the real estate double in Arizona when in July thousands of illegals head to California’s sanctuary state to disease and break California more. It took Arizona law to tame the west in the 1800′s looks like history is repeating itself
Yep. The illegals are adding to this problem. Of course the bleeding hearts say we should help them get immunized. But the proper logic is that immigrants use the formal/legal process to come to the USA — which includes verifying that the newcomer has the proper vaccinations.
That is one of many reasons that we have an immigration process and why illegal immigration is a BAD thing.
Immigration is a health issue—and the answer is to make health care available to all, with or without documents
Come on people…let’s state the obvious. People like Jenny McCarthy are using pseudo p -science and a general lack of understanding among the populous to convince people that immunizations are more dangerous than the diseases being treated.
I even had one person I know recently tell me that there is no “proof” that vaccines work. THIS is a common belief now. I reminded her that we don’t see polio wards anymore. The number of children who contract illnesses like chicken pox has also decreased and I don’t think that is just correlation, it’s causation. People who believe this (quackery) often don’t understand that infants and children die regularly from this virus….the government needs to step up it’s informational programs when babies are born…parents need to be given one-on-one instruction on vaccines and paperwork before they leave the hospital.
The really sad part is that people defend anti-vaccination rhetoric with RELIGIOUS fervor….and just as little science.