THE YOUNGEST AMONG US CAN BE THE MOST VULNERABLE. NEW MEXICO IS ONCE AGAIN SEEING HUNDREDS OF CASES OF PERTUSSIS, OR WHOOPING COUGH. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY'VE RECORDED 331 CASES SO FAR THIS YEAR. NO DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED, BUT NINE INFANTS HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED.
2012 SAW NEARLY 900 CASES AND TWO WERE FATAL. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS PERTUSSIS IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND THE BEST WAY TO AVOID IT IS TO BE PROPERLY VACCINATED, EVEN FOR INFANTS AS YOUNG AS TWO MONTHS OLD.
PREGNANT WOMEN ARE ALSO NOW BEING ADVISED TO GET THE SHOTS TO HELP PASS ON PROTECTIVE ANTIBODIES TO THE FETUS.
