Whooping cough (pertussis) is resurging in USA

Sporadic cases and outbreaks of whooping cough (pertussis) are being reported by the following places in the USA:

• Michigan (Grand Traverse County) - 70 cases
• Montana (Gallatin County) - 18 cases, school related
• Nebraska (Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties)
• California - most reported cases in last 70 years
• Ohio (Holmes County) - 78 school children exposed
• Texas - 2 deaths; 94 cases, with 74 of these in Smith County
• New Mexico (Valencia County) - approximately 300 cases statewide

Pertussis cases have increased throughout most of the world due in part to increased virulence and other genetic changes in the circulating strains as well as decreased immunity over time. Outbreaks of pertussis (whooping cough) can occur anywhere in the world at anytime. Travellers can reduce their risk of exposure to this disease by ensuring that their childhood vaccinations and their current immune status for pertussis are up-to-date prior to travelling.