Washtenaw public health officials sound warning for whooping cough epidemic - w/video

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http://www.annarbor.com/news/public-health-department-officials-sound-warning-for-whooping-cough-epidemic/

Washtenaw public health officials sound warning for whooping cough epidemic
By: Juliana Keeping
Posted: Sep 4, 2010 at 6:00 AM


Whooping cough has become a Washtenaw County epidemic.

And with the start of the school year, public health officials are sounding the warning that the highly contagious bacterial disease could gain even more momentum.

It's known as whooping cough for the "whoop" sound those with the infection make between coughing spasms as they try to breathe, and it can be fatal to infants.

As of Friday, 94 cases have been reported in Washtenaw County in 2010. Comparatively, the total number of whooping cough cases stood at 81 in 2009; the last record year was 36 cases in 2003, according to the Washtenaw County Public Health Department.

Whooping cough - its scientific name is pertussis - is preventable.

“We’re getting into the school season, and we want to make sure that people are appropriately vaccinated and know about the disease,” said Diana Torres-Burgos, medical director for the county health department.

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