Is the pertussis outbreak on California still going on?

[HRJ]

My dad is in San Diego on business this week.  Is the major outbreak of 2010 died down at all?  I know we had a pretty big outbreak in Ohio in 2010, and we're back to 'normal levels'.  He is staying with us over Christmas, and I have two unvaxxed kids (one of which is 10 months old). 

Thanks!

[emmy526]

Call the health dept in the county where he came from and find out the statistics of prevalence there. They should have an idea since infectious disease is supposed to be reported to the health dept. 

[japonica]

Even with reports of an "outbreak," pertussis is endemic anyway, so I always assume there's cases somewhere in our area.

We just got a letter from the school about a month ago about confirmed cases and that our kids had "possibly" been exposed. Nothing came of it, but I'm always of the mind that it's probably going around the school at any given time. Older kids don't have the typical cough (or whoop) and so anyone with a nagging cough that lasts more than three weeks is suspect to me.

[twinpossible]

It has died down a little in Nor Cal but my twin's doctor said that your child can get it with or w/o the vaccine.

[miriam]

. 

Edited by miriam - 5/27/12 at 2:43pm

[twinpossible]

Originally Posted by miriam 

So what is the point of getting the vaccine?

Pertussis epidemics rise and fall every 3-5 years.

Of course the peak has passed, so now the health department can score a victory for the extra vaccine added to the adolescent schedule. 

He said that it limits your risk but not by much.

[miriam]

. 

Edited by miriam - 5/27/12 at 2:42pm

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by HRJ 

My dad is in San Diego on business this week.  Is the major outbreak of 2010 died down at all?  I know we had a pretty big outbreak in Ohio in 2010, and we're back to 'normal levels'.  He is staying with us over Christmas, and I have two unvaxxed kids (one of which is 10 months old). 

Thanks!

I live in San Diego and there hasn't been a single confirmed case in my son's school this year or last, and he goes to a pretty big school.  I think the "major outbreak" was way overblown.  I think your father was probably more likely to pick up a contagious illness on his flight(s) than just being in an area with some pertussis, TBH.

I know this is a month-old thread, so OP - how did your dad and kids fare?