Whooping cough cases on the rise Published Nov. 2, 2010 By 1st Lt Cassie Cosentino 4th Medical Group SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, NC -- Pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, is typically thought of as a disease of the past; unfortunately, the number of whooping cough cases are once again on the rise. Before a vaccine was created in the U.S., pertussis annually killed 5,000 to 10,000 people. Thanks to a vaccine, the number of deaths has been reduced to less than 30 a year. In 2009, there were nearly 17,000 confirmed cases of pertussis in the U.S. and most were discovered in infants less than 6 months old and in unvaccinated children 11 through 18 years old. The resurgence in whooping cough makes it important for adults and children to be vaccinated. There are two forms of the pertussis vaccine: DTaP (for those younger than 7 years) and Tdap (for adolescents and adults). These are combination vaccines that provide protection from diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. For maximum protection, children need to receive five doses of the DTaP vaccine. The first three are given at 2, 4, and 6 months, while the remaining two are administered between 15 and 18 months and again at 4 to 6 years of age. It is important to follow the vaccine schedule to fully protect children. Since vaccine protection for pertussis fades with time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends children receive a booster dose of the Tdap vaccine between ages 11 and 12. The CDC also recommends any adult 19 through 64 years old who has not received a dose of Tdap be vaccinated. Receiving a Tdap vaccination is especially important for families with infants and infant caregivers, as babies are not fully protected from pertussis until 6 months of age. Vaccinations are an easy, cost-effective way to prevent pertussis. For more information about g pertussis or the vaccine, contact the public health office at 722-1172 or speak with a primary care manager. Remember, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" -Benjamin Franklin. (Editor's note: All information presented in this article is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control.)