School Nurses Noticing Cluster of Whooping Cough in Valley

Clusters of whooping cough have been noticed by school nurses in the San Fernando Valley and South Bay, as sessions are about to resume, and the county's public health officer said today the infectious illness is a statewide concern.

"This is a problem not just in Los Angeles, but California-wide," said Dr. Jonathan Fielding.

The director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health told City News Service today there were 435 "lab-confirmed" cases of whooping cough,  and 386 "suspect cases" cases this month alone.

The Los Angeles Daily News reported today that Los Angeles school officials had noted clusters in the San Fernando Valley and the South Bay.

Immunization prevents the disease, formally called pertussis, but some parents have withheld their children from shots.

Schools are requiring shots, which used to be recommended at 6 months, 2 years and 4 years of age.

"One of the things we found out is that the immunity wanes over time -- a lot faster than we thought," Fielding said. "That's why we're asking that they (children) have (at last one immunization) before the seventh grade."

As for those kids who get the disease, "it's easily treated with antibiotics," Fielding said. But once infected, "you can be infectious as long as 21 days."

--City News Service