HEALTHNumber of pertussis cases spiking in several statesOutbreaks of the bacterial disease have increased significantly, and theories abound as to why.By Victoria Stagg Elliott, amednews staff. Oct. 18, 2004. Pertussis has increased dramatically in the past year, with several states reporting large outbreaks. Nearly 10,000 cases had been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by the end of September, a significant increase over the nearly 6,000 reported by this time last year. Much of this increase is accounted for by outbreaks in Midwestern, New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. For example, Wisconsin had a total of 215 cases last year, but already has tallied more than 1,200 this year -- eight times what would normally be expected. "There are a lot of cases occurring," said Jeffrey Davis, MD, state epidemiologist at the Wisconsin Dept. of Health and Family Services. "And it has had an impact on the public health system as well as the primary care physicians taking care of patients." North Dakota also has seen a spike, with more than 600 cases this year compared with only six in 2003, although that outbreak now appears to be dwindling. "It's slowed down a little bit, and we're hoping we're seeing the end of it," said Heather Weaver, immunization program manager at the North Dakota Dept. of Health. Most believe that much of the increase can be blamed on the vaccine's long-acknowledged waning effectiveness. Most children receive their last pertussis shot by age 6, and thus lose much of the protection it provides within a decade. [...]Full text of American Medical News content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.
Copyright 2004 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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The doctors are in the house
The AMA's House of Delegates is holding its Interim Meeting Nov. 7-10 in Houston, addressing issues such as health system reform and physician payment. Meeting coverage - Slideshow Feature articlesHealth reform review The Massachusetts experience Litigation stress Being sued is personal as well as professional Comprehensive coverage
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