By Margaret Crosby

Published at 11:08, Thursday, 24 November 2011

THERE have been 54 cases of whooping cough in the county so far this year and 49 of them were in Copeland/Allerdale.

This figure compares with 29 cases in West Cumbria last year and, now that infants and children are vaccinated, it is chiefly adults that are affected.

The county 2011 figure of 54 compares with 36 cases in 2010.

Many cases of whooping cough in adults are not diagnosed and it may be that more cases are being diagnosed in West Cumbria because people know the highly contagious bacterial disease is around.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, causes uncontrollable violent coughing that makes it hard to breathe and a deep whooping sound is made when the sufferer tries to take a breath.

When an infected person sneezes or coughs, tiny droplets containing the bacteria move through the air, and the disease is easily spread from person to person. The infection usually lasts six weeks.

Whooping cough can affect people of any age but now children are immunized the higher percentage of cases is seen among older people.

Prof John Ashton, director of public health for Cumbria, said: “Although the number of cases of whooping cough has dramatically reduced over the last 50 years, there are still a few hundred cases every year across the country and often cases aren’t diagnosed as people think it is just an ongoing cough.

“In the last year we have also seen a small number of cases in Cumbria, particularly in West Cumbria.

“The most important thing for people to remember is that whooping cough is not generally dangerous for adults, but it can cause serious harm in young children including lifelong lung damage resulting in breathing problems and even death.

“This is why the best way to protect children is by ensuring that they are fully vaccinated against whooping cough and that they have their booster vaccination before starting school.”

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk