CDC Declares Cough Epidemic in the United States

The whooping cough situation is being called an epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a report released by the organization.

In Texas alone, close to 2,000 cases of cough have been rerported. "With babies there's no whoop of cough, it's like a common cold or cough. So if we see an infant especially below the age of one year old and the cough is lasting to many days without a rhyme or reason," said Texas Tech Physicians Department of Pediatrics, Vinod K. Sethi, M.D., F.A.A.P.

In the Texas Panhandle, nine cases were reported last year. This year, 11 cases with two deaths statewide were reported. Officials say the spike is a result of parents who are choosing not to vaccinate their children against it over fears that vaccine causes autism.

"I wish that this concept for the fear of getting autism if you get the vaccine would go away because we have been seeing how this is a problem with the epidemic. And I'm afraid if our population doesn't get properly immunized both children and adults will face many more of these infectious diseases," said Dr. Sethi.

Vaccinations for infants start at two months and continue through six years of age. For medical officials they're stressing the importance of anyone around small children getting vaccinated.

"Right now, we request all pregnant women who are in their last trimester please go get yourself immunized because if you get immunized as a pregnant lady your chances of your baby having the whooping cough are going to be really small," said Dr. Sethi.

For daycares, a health scare is something they take notice of. At Amarillo College's Child Development Lab School they say they take extra precautions by hand washing constantly and cleaning.