Idaho Led Nation In Whooping Cough

Idaho led the nation last year in per-capita cases of whooping cough, a highly contagious disease that can make babies violently ill.

And the cases continue to pile up. In January, more than 20 adults and kids have been diagnosed with whooping cough statewide.

The problem is that not enough kids are immunized, said Dr. Jesse Greenblatt, state epidemiologist.

Whooping cough is a bacterial illness spread by coughing or sneezing. Victims may have coughing spells so violent they barely can eat, drink or breathe.

Nationwide, three whooping-cough related deaths were reported in 1994. No one died in Idaho.

To prevent large outbreaks, 90 percent of kids must be immunized. Immunization rates for Idaho toddlers are much lower than that.

Statewide, only 62 percent of 2-year-olds have received all recommended vaccinations, including four doses of DTP, which provides three-way protection against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

“If our population were vaccinated, the bacteria could not spread and spread and spread,” Greenblatt said.

In 1994, Idaho reported a total of 182 whooping cough cases statewide. That translates into almost 16 cases for every 100,000 Idahoans, the highest per-capita rate in the nation.

The biggest outbreak was in North Idaho.

One of the main reason kids aren’t immunized is because their parents are afraid the vaccines aren’t safe. Dr. Thomas Rand, a Boise pediatrician who specializes in infectious diseases, says those fears are unfounded.

“The vaccine is 1,000-fold, or 10,000-fold, safer than having the pertussis infection,” he said.