County Records 99 Whooping Cough Cases this Year

Santa Clara County is returning to its baseline after a spike in whooping cough cases last year. More than half the cases occurred in July, but no one is expecting a similar repeat this summer.

Still, new numbers out last month indicate that the county has recorded nearly 100 cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, since the beginning of this year, of which seven patients were hospitalized, according to the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health. 

“In general, it’s a cyclical disease that peaks every three to five years,” according to Dr. Sara Cody, deputy health officer with the county public health department. “You would think we would come back down to baseline here in 2011, but we are still seeing more activity than you might expect, due to an unusually high amount of cases in 2010.”

In a 16-month period beginning in January 2010, Santa Clara County saw a total of 560 confirmed, probable or suspected cases of pertussis, 30 hospitalizations and no pertussis-related deaths. Cody said pertussis was one of the top five illnesses reported to the public health department last year. 

Statewide, there were 9,477 cases, resulting in 10 deaths and 663 hospitalizations. The number of cases in 2010 represents the most cases reported in 63 years, ever since there were 9,394 cases reported in 1947, according to a California Department of Public Health Pertussis Summary Report issued recently.

Since early 2010, the city of Milpitas has reported 11 cases. During that same time, the largest reported cases were found in San Jose with 296, followed by Sunnyvale with 54 cases and Santa Clara with 43 reported cases, according to the county. 

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough because of its persistent “whoop”- like cough, is a highly contagious airborne bacterial illness spread through coughs and sneezes. Pertussis is hard to diagnose, as its early symptoms are similar to that of a common cold, with runny nose, fever and cough. 

But what distinguishes pertussis from the common cold is what happens in its second phase, according to Cody. After a couple of weeks, the pertussis infection causes intense coughing spasms that often leave a person gasping for air. Babies often cough until they cannot breathe, and older children, teens and adults frequently cough until they vomit or turn blue from lack of oxygen. The cough can last weeks and, in some cases, months before it tapers off.

The best defense against the disease is vaccination, as it is an extremely contagious disease. 

“Because it's so contagious, we must have a large amount of the population vaccinated in order to get what we call 'herd immunization,' which would protect a majority,” said Cody.

A that goes into effect July 1 might help in the state’s herd immunity. Students entering or advancing to grades seven through 12 in the 2011-12 school year are now required to get immunized with a pertussis vaccine booster called Tdap, or Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis. The new requirement affects all students entering public and private schools. 

“Our biggest concern is how to get the adolescents to get their Tdap—before entering schools,” said Cody. “Students attending have to have documentation that they have that booster.”

Who knows, Cody said. “Maybe it will help contribute to a community-wide vaccination method.”

The Santa Clara County Department of Public Health will provide $15 Tdap vaccinations for uninsured children on Thursdays in San Jose. For more information, click here.