Officials Confirm Baby's Whooping Cough Death

Whooping cough caused the death of a 6-week-old baby in San Diego County last week, according to health officials.

Ten infants have died in California during this year's whooping cough epidemic. The baby who died last week was treated at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego.
     
The highly contagious illness has symptoms similar to the common cold, but a persistent cough that lasts weeks may indicate the illness, which is also known as pertussis. More than 5,270 people have been infected in California this year.
     
All the babies who have died this year were too young to be fully immunized, so health officials are urging parents and caretakers to get booster shots to create a cocoon of immunity around vulnerable children.

California has declared a whooping cough epidemic as the record number of cases continues to climb.

"Due to the state-declared epidemic, we would like to remind parents that the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has lowered the recommendation for Tdap booster shots from 10-11 years and now recommend those 7-9 years of age and older receive a booster dose," San Diego County Public Health Officer Wilma Wooten said last month.

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