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So far this year, 43 cases of whooping cough have been reported in Long Beach, alarming the City’s Health Officer, who says last year during the same period, there were only five such cases and 15 reported in all of 2013.

Though there have been no deaths yet, the fact that whooping cough, or pertussis, a highly contagious disease, is on the rise is sparking a Health Department campaign to encourage both adults and children to get immunized. The Department is working closely with the Long Beach Unified School District to get the word out to parents, as the majority of the cases reported so far this year have been school-age children. 

“A recent rise in pertussis in the City of Long Beach serves as a reminder that all age groups need to be properly immunized against this highly contagious disease,” said Dr. Mitchell Kushner, Health Officer for the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services.

The disease is passed from an infected person through their coughing and typically manifests in adults and chidren as a cough and runny nose lasting up to two weeks then is followed by rapid coughing fits. For infants, symptoms may be more severe and include a cough that produces the disease’s namesake “whooping” sound as well as vomiting. Complications can include pneumonia, seizures and, in rare cases, death.

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Risk of the disease is eliminated in children by the five-dose pertussis vaccine (DTaP), which is usually given before kindergarten. Booster shots are recommended for middle-school aged children, pregnant women and adults, especially those are around children and infants. 

Statewide cases of perstussis are in flux, but not necessarily on the rise, according to the California Department of Public Health. 2470 whooping cough cases were reported in all of last year, which is higher than 2012’s 1023 cases, but less than the 3016 and 9159 cases reported in 2011 and 2010, respectively. So far this year, the State has recorded 495 cases. 

Long Beach residents are encouraged to contact their regular healthcare provider to arrange for recommended vaccinations. Those who do not have a regular healthcare provider or health insurance covering vaccines can dial 2-1-1 or the LBDHHS Immunization Program at (562) 570-4516 for information on community sites offering immunizations at reduced cost. For more information about pertussis, visit the LBDHHS website at www.longbeach.gov/health or dial (562) 570-4302.