Whooping Cough Hits California Hard

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SAN FRANCISCO (GaeaTimes.com)- The health authorities in California declared an epidemic of whooping cough hitting the state after the death of 5 infants came into headlines in recent times. The health authorities have asked that the residents should opt for vaccination to safeguard themselves against the onslaught of the disease. The people with Latino origin need to be more careful. Whooping Cough is often mis diagnosed as flu or common cold by people. More than 90 cases have been confirmed in the state which has made the authorities hit the panic button. Several more patients are still under observation. It could turn out to be the severest outbreak of the malady in the state in last 50 years as the California Department of Public Health has reported.

Generally people get afflicted with whooping cough in the summer. The doctors see more cases coming up in months like July and August. The doctors are of the opinion that the outbreak this year is severe and unless it is not checked in time the results can be dreadful. The kids who died were al Latino and under 6 months. While the disease is not uncommon in the USA, California is the only state where it has assumed an alarming form, this year.

Generally the babies are inoculated against whooping cough at two months but until they cross six months they remain vulnerable to the ailment. They also need to be given booster doses in their teen years and adulthood. It is caused by a bacterium that affects the human respirator systems. The affected people can transmit it to newborns.