The Des Moines Register is just one of several media outlets reporting on the current whooping cough outbreak in Iowa. Ann Garvey, deputy state epidemiologist, is quoted as describing the situation as part of a three to five year cycle for pertussis cases. The data suggests that there may be other, more pertinent reasons for the outbreak.
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Chart showing distribution of whooping cough cases by state through June 9 2012 and the personal exemptions status of the state. Prepared by Charles Simmins. Click for a larger image.

Whooping cough cases in the United States jumped by at least 1,421 in the last week, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and several state health departments that are posting their own data. The data is for week 23, through June 9, 2012. Cases counts for the year are preliminary and will not be finalized for about 18 months.
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A public health nurse gives an immunization injection.

In 2010, California public health authorities struggled with a record whooping cough epidemic. 9,156 cases were reported and ten infants died. A pertussis vaccine exists but California is a state that allows parents to exempt their children from immunizations due to a strong personal belief.
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Chart showing yearly cases of whooping cough in Montana 20012 to 2012. Chart prepared by Charles Simmins. Click for a larger image.

Montana is one of the least populated states but it is battling an outbreak of whooping cough as great as many of its more heavily populated sister states. Through May 30, 2012, Montana has seen 252 pertussis cases for the year. The Centers for Disease Control data for 2012 through May 26 reports 242 cases.

Fifteen cases of whooping cough have been diagnosed in infants. Four required hospitalization. Forty-five percent of all pertussis cases in Montana to date have been in children age 10 and under. Only eighteen percent of the illnesses have been in adults.
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The Washington State Department of Health (DoH) has released its latest data on the continuing whooping cough epidemic in the state. For 2012, through May 19, 1,736 cases of pertussis have been reported. For the same period in 2011, there were 146 cases.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have the latest data on immunization rates in the state of Washington. The data was provided for students entering kindergarten and those entering sixth grade. The 2010-2011 school year is the latest data.
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