Schools

Whooping Cough In Schools Has Health Officials Alarmed

Reported incidents number more than ten times the number of cases seen last year.

By Bay City News Service

Health officials in Contra Costa County are warning of particularly high rate of whooping cough infections this year.

"We're seeing more than 10 times the number of cases we had in 2009 and are on pace to pass last year's record," Erika Jenssen, an immunization coordinator with Contra Costa Health Services, said in a statement.

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Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory illness, and can be deadly for infants.

Last year, a record-high 205 cases were reported in the county.

Find out what's happening in Lamorindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This year, 78 cases have been reported so far, three of which involved infants who had to be hospitalized, health officials said.

Health officials are advising the public to get vaccinated and stay home if sick.

The vaccine is widely available, and health officials urge residents to contact their regular health care providers for immunizations. Free drop-in immunization clinics are also available. Visit www.cchealth.org for times and locations.

A new state law requires that students in seventh through 12th grades show proof that they have received a whooping cough vaccination before beginning classes this fall, health officials said.

"It's a safety measure to ensure kids don't bring illnesses home from school and spread them to their families, particularly infants," Jenssen said.


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