Whooping Cough Epidemic Rages in California: 5 Babies Dead, 910 Infected

(iStockphoto/CBS)

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) After 910 cases of whooping cough that have left five babies dead, California has had enough. The state is calling the outbreak an epidemic. The number of infections is on pace to break a 50-year record.

It's not the kind of record you want to beat.

"Children should be vaccinated against the disease and parents, family members and caregivers of infants need a booster shot," California Department of Public Health director Dr. Mark Horton said Wednesday.

Officials fear the surge in whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is about to get much worse. Six hundred cases are under investigation. The case load this year is 400 percent higher than last.

A typical case starts with a cough and runny nose for one to two weeks, followed by weeks or months of rapid coughing fits that sometimes end with a whooping sound. Fever is rare.

Unimmunized or incompletely immunized babies are particularly vulnerable. Three vaccines are administered for whooping cough, from 2 to 6 months of age. Neither getting vaccinated nor surviving the illness provides lifetime immunity.

Health officials say whooping cough is cyclical and tends to peak every two to five years.

[americanvictim]

Most diseases that had ravaged the U.S. had been somewhat eradicated a few decades ago, in the 50's and 60's. And had NOT been seen for years. Until lately, like the past 5 years. These people that decided this country was theirs for the taking wants to believe it is they that is beening victimized because most Americans didn't just lay down smiling saying please walk on me, as they wear a kick me sign. The reason the invasion of 2005/2010 is being called immigration is for the righteousness of a people instead of calling it what it really is. This righteousness is also why these precious people continuously accuse Americans of hate among other things. These people know they are in the wrong but are refusing to admit it, even to themselves. 10's of millions had come over the southern border with the word racist on their tongues ready for use. Their thinking, the very moment any American says anything about there being here in this country that word racist they have been holding will quickly come rolling out. That was their only defence. Now we see if any American/Americans dare get in their way as this invasion continues, they are quickly called racist, nazis, white supremacist. These people know its their country with the worst laws in North America and their country that violates human rights as they march in American streets with "we are human" signs. Either they know thats hypocritical or their not thinking. When the "Bill of Rights" was being written it was NOT with the intent that everybody in the world has rights in the U.S. Like the right to flood the nation with an insane number of people and breed it to death like they did their own country. The reason these people have to be here in the first place is the country they came from can not supply the demand. As their country failed to prosper these people went on an overpopulation spree. Until their country was unable to cope with its peoples breeding habits. Now they believe they have the right to do the same thing here in the U.S. As they step over the southern border their lives get better like the whole country is Disneyland or Magicmountain to them and the American peoples lives get worse. Looking at that i see the American people as the victims of a people that can't control their sexual organs. None of these people are homeless they all get taken care of like Kings and Queens in the U.S. Americans are still losing their homes and their lives because of all this. And they, the invaders expect Americans to smile and pretend all of this is cool.

[edixope4842]

Gee, I wonder if it has anything to do with the large number of illegal aliens in California-Naw, couldn't be-illegals would get vaccinated right?

Uh...right? Uh, Jessie...Al....could ya help me out here?

[webbsight]

That's just about enough I'm going to stand to hear. Our racist fellow citizens that have spoken here and who represent more of the unspoken who believe and/or sympathize with them are vile human beings. Without revisiting the history of germs it's safe to say we know how and where the bulk of diseases spread to the New World. Beyond that I will be delighted when one of you who like to spew the hate do so in my presence. Speech is protected, offensive hate speech is not and I urge those of us that it offends put these losers where they belong, on there backs wondering what hit them.

[releggneh2]

I wonder where we are getting these disease we haven't had for many years when We all get vaccinated??HMMMMM

[Emmy2]

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic. The answer, of course, is that we are *not* all getting vaccinated anymore. Some quack doctors and uneducated celebrities have succeeded in convincing many superstitious American parents that vaccines are dangerous for their children. In my area we saw a massive outbreak of measles last winter, something that hasn't been seen for many years.

[erasmus111]

I had whooping cough when I was 6 years old. I don't remember a lot at that age, but I do have memories of that. It was like a nightmare. I can't believe I survived it.

[lemonbook]

Hmmmmmmmm.....another nice present from the invaders.