Whooping cough outbreak continues unabated
Whooping cough, or pertussis, continues to spread in many areas of the country. In other areas, the case counts are down dramatically from 2009. The best count, using both the data provided in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) MMWR Week 27 report (as of July 10, 2010) and a press release from the California California Department of Public Health (CDPH), seems to be 7,174 cases in 2010, and 7,440 cases for 2009 through the same date.
The CDPH press release is cited for a reason. Just over half of all the cases of whooping cough in California have not been reported to the CDC. I have been following with the CDC on this issue and they forwarded to me this response from California, that had been forwarded to them:
We are counting cases that are coming from CDMS and from the raw file you are exporting. It is my understanding that only cases for which we’ve received a Case History Form are sent to CDC from CDMS. Many counties are extremely behind in submitting the form since they are overwhelmed with case investigation for the ongoing outbreak. We’ve been maintaining our in-state total to release to the media which we know doesn’t match up with what is being sent to CDC. Our total count of Pertussis cases reported Jan-June 2010 is 1,337.
The press released linked has increased that June 30 total to 1,496. Here is a graph illustrating the difference in reported numbers. Click on the graph for a larger image.
The inability of California to report its cases of whooping cough in a timely manner means that Federal public health officials cannot react in a timely manner to changes in the case counts. It should worry neighboring states, as well, since they, too, cannot know how severe the epidemic may be.
Here are the states, in decreasing order of 2010 pertussis cases, that make up 2/3 of all the cases of whooping cough in the United States.
The states in deep red are up at least 150% over 2009. The cases in salmon are up between 100% and 150% over last year. Despite their totals, Texas and Ohio are only up 8% over 2009. Arizona, however, is up 86% and upstate New York (everything outside New York City) is up 98% over 2009 at this time. Click on the graph for a larger image.
These nine states have seen 2/3 of the cases of pertussis. Only California is seeing a dramatic increase in case numbers, year over year. Upstate New York has gone to 190 cases in 2010 from 96 cases in 2009, for example. The public health authorities in California called it an epidemic, and the case number increase bears out that declaration.
While those states are seeing significant increases in cases of whooping cough for 2010 over last year, others have significant decreases. Here are the states with over 150 cases in 2009 and with reductions in cases year over year.
For more information about whooping cough:
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) – What You Need To Know from the CDC
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) from CDPH
the attachments to this post:
Pie chart July 10 2010
Week 27 2010
Week 27 Cali rptng variance
ANSJ week 27_htm_498bce3d
ANSJ week 27_htm_m40d2beba
[...] the highest rate of vaccine refusal is a coincidence? The fact that huge increases are reported in upstate New York and Arizona, where refusal is also high, is also a [...]
Missing in all this is who is afflicted by WC. Mainly illegal immigrants. Our nation is civilized-it is our government that purposefully neglects our border’s that is to blame. WC is just one of many diseases brought here from other countries. Wake up!
Many of the people getting sick in states such as California are illegal immigrants who did not receive vaccinations in their native country and are afraid to get them here. Just another consequence of not defending our borders.
Vaccines are perfectly safe. The “scientists” and our government say so. And we know that “scientists” would never make up anything, and that our government can be trusted.
Why so many of you people defend vaccines is beyond me…
re Whooping Cough, yes it is the 21st century. It would be nice if the vaccine makers kept up with the strain. Our oldest (nine years old) had been inoculated twice already in her life and still contracted it. We’re one of the statistics listed above…lol. It’s all anecdotal I know, but I’ve been told by doctors, nurses and school teachers the numbers are far greater than reported. It’s far easier (and less disruptive) to just prescribe antibiotics. Unfortunately without a full household quarantine and county health care department notification being passed along to the feds for tracking, we’re falling further behind the disease. Keep washing those hands and watch out for people that don’t cover their mouths when they cough…lol. That’s about all we have right now… good luck all
It takes five shots to immunize. Infants have little immunity until they have received three shots, by age six months. A lot of these children may be catching whooping cough from adults, who have never received a booster.
“Who needs vaccines? Seems like about the four thousand kids getting pertussis.”
There’s a minimum age you can safely receive the vaccine. The only way to keep babies from getting it is to vaccinate everyone else.
Eric, the current recommendations for the pertussis vaccine suggest five doses, one at two months, one at four months, one at six months, one at 15-18 months and one at 5-6 years. Immunization is not lifelong, and adults should be immunized every ten years along with their tetanus vaccine.
This is not a joke. Adults have broken ribs coughing because of pertussis. My next tetanus shot will be the DPT, not a booster. Blast those chic-chic idiots who deliberately avoid infant/child vaccinations.
Who needs vaccines? Seems like about the four thousand kids getting pertussis.
Whooping Cough? Seriously? Seriously? It’s the 21st Century! There’s a damned vaccine for this disease. No one should ever get it in a civilized nation.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Chuck Simmins, epispider. epispider said: Whooping cough outbreak continues unabated (http://is.gd/dyQQV) [...]