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Record Cases Of Whooping Cough In Kern County
Number Of CasesTriples InTwo Weeks
POSTED: 12:38 pm PDT July 8, 2010
UPDATED: 3:17 pm PDT July 8, 2010
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Whooping cough cases are sky high in Kern County. The number of reported cases have tripled in the past two weeks, jumping from 45 to 120 infections.Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection characterized by violent coughing fits that have been known to crack ribs and kill babies. Statewide, 910 cases have been reported with the death of five infants.Health officials are urging everyone to get vaccinated, especially since school is starting next month. "Now's the time to get it done. It will be as effective and even more because you'll have more time to get that protection to have the effect (of the vaccine)by the time you go back to school," said Dr. Claudia Jonah from the Public Health Department.
The pertussis vaccine usually takes about a week to take effect, so health officials suggest getting the vaccine early enough.
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