WASHINGITON - U.S. Senator Charles Schumer called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to launch an all-out effort in New York and around the country to combat the startling rise in cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. Whooping cough is a transmissible disease that can strike individuals of any age, but is particularly dangerous to children. According to the CDC, the United States is headed for its worst year for whooping cough in more than 50 years, and in New York, there has been a threefold increase in cases from 2011 to 2012.

Recent reports have suggested that one of the causes for the spike in cases of whooping cough is related to adults who have not been vaccinated since the age of 18 contracting the disease, and then transferring it to children. The whooping cough vaccine wears off over time and booster shots are essential for added protection from the virus.

Schumer called on the CDC to put in place a three-part plan for combating the disease in New York. First, he called on the CDC to work with the state health department to provide free vaccinations and establish clinics to administer booster shots to adults; second, he called for the launch a public information campaign targeted to adults who have not been vaccinated since the age of 18; and third, he urged the CDC to ensure that there is ample supply and easy distribution of the vaccines nationwide.

“Whooping cough is rearing its ugly head and we need to get on top of this highly contagious disease before it becomes too big to control. It is not simply a nuisance, it can be deadly,” said Schumer. “The spike in cases over the last year is reaching epidemic proportions and because of the dangers it poses, particularly to small children, we must act aggressively and quickly. The vaccine wears off over time so we must rapidly increase the number of booster shots and vaccines, and educate families about the dangers of whooping cough. We must also ensure we have ample supply of vaccine to hopefully curb this dangerous trend before it becomes even worse.”

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial disease which affects all age groups, although it is more dangerous for young children and the elderly. Because the early symptoms of whooping cough are mild, including coughing and cold-like symptoms, it is difficult to detect and often confused with the common cold. It can be distinguished from the cold by the characteristic 'whooping' sound when coughing, made especially by young children.  Vaccine treatments of five doses are given to children, but the effectiveness of the vaccine decreases over time and adults should be encouraged to have booster shots so as not to infect young children.

According to the CDC, the number of cases of whooping cough nationwide is at its highest levels in over 50 years, with more than 18,000 cases reported this year so far – more than twice the number seen at this point in 2011. The problem is particularly bad in New York State, which according to the CDC has seen a three-fold increase in the number of cases of whooping cough from 2011 to 2012. In 2012 alone, according to the New York State Health Department there have been 1,288 cases in New York State.