California Whooping Cough: 9 Dead, Infections On The Rise

by leavingwt 5 Replies latest social current

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  leavingwt

  California Whooping Cough: 9 Dead, Infections On The Rise

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  The state is on track to exceed the record 4,949 cases reported in 1955. The bacterial infection tends to peak during summer months, but infections could continue into coming weeks, said Chavez.

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  All of the whooping cough-related deaths in California occurred in babies too young to be fully immunized against the illness, which is why parents and caretakers are being urged to get booster shots. Typically, babies are given a series of vaccinations, then receive booster shots between ages 4 and 6 and again after age 10.

  Many parents forgo vaccines for their children because of concerns about autism, typically fueled by misinformation on the Internet, said Dr. Mark Sawyer, a University of California-San Diego professor and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

  The vaccines against whooping cough are free of the additive thimerosal, a preservative containing mercury that has been the subject of a long-running public debate about whether it can cause autism.

  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/20/california-whooping-cough_0_n_731281.html

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  Many parents forgo vaccines for their children because of concerns about autism, typically fueled by misinformation on the Internet, said Dr. Mark Sawyer, a University of California-San Diego professor and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

  The vaccines against whooping cough are free of the additive thimerosal, a preservative containing mercury that has been the subject of a long-running public debate about whether it can cause autism.

  A federal ruling in March said there was no connection between autism and thimerosal.

  "We need to remember that vaccines are probably the biggest reason that so few of us lose our children when they are young," said Dr. Patricia Samuelson, speaking on behalf of the California Academy of Family Physicians. "They used to say in this country, 'Don't count your children until after they've had measles' because so many would die."

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  Health officials also are asking everyone over 6 months of age to get a flu vaccine this year, expanding previous guidelines that targeted vulnerable populations. The recommendation reflects federal guidelines.

  This year's influenza vaccine, Trivalent, will protect against the H1N1 virus, and two other strains of the virus, said Chavez.

  . . .

  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/20/california-whooping-cough_0_n_731281.html
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  straightshooter

  It is a sad situation in California.

  My personal feelings is that vacinations should be optional. There seems to be vacinations for everything. But I remember I and other classmates having measles and none of us died. Though I see nothing wrong in one getting a vacination, my wife is dead-set again it for various reasons including the autism scare.
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  blondie

  Measles

• Measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available.
• In 2008, there were 164 000 measles deaths globally – nearly 450 deaths every day or 18 deaths every hour.
• More than 95% of measles deaths occur in low-income countries with weak health infrastructures.
• Measles vaccination resulted in a 78% drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2008 worldwide.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/