STATE OFFICIALS WILL BE AT LA CUEVA HIGH SCHOOL WEDNESDAY EVENING TO MEET WITH PARENTS AND PROVIDE BOOSTER SHOTS TO CHILDREN. HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE URGING PARENTS TO GET THEIR KIDS RE-IMMUNIZED AGAINST WHOOPING COUGH … OR PERTUSSIS … AFTER AN ONGOING OUTBREAK AT AN ALBUQUERQUE HIGH SCHOOL MADE 30 PEOPLE ILL. STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST DAVID SELVAGE SAYS STUDENTS CAN BRING THE DISEASE HOME AND INFECT YOUNG SIBLINGS, EXPECTANT MOTHERS, AND INFANTS.
PERTUSSIS IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS BUT TYPICALLY IS NOT LIFE THREATENING FRO TEENS AND HEALTHY ADULTS. BUT THE ILLNESS CAN KILL INFANTS AND PEOPLE WITH WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEMS.
