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SoCal Whooping Cough Cases Drop By Nearly Half

SAN DIEGO (CBS) —The number of reported cases of whooping cough in schools and other public areas has dropped significantly so far in 2011, county health officials said on Thursday.

KNX 1070's Tom Reopelle reports that for the first time in eight months, no cases have been reported in the past week in San Diego County after a record number of cases last year.

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The nearly 50 percent drop in whooping cough, or pertussis, cases comes after two infants died in the record 1,144 cases of people reporting symptoms in 2010.

Health officials caution that while the data is encouraging, it may be too early to determine whether the epidemic is over.

A new law beginning July 1 requires all California school kids in grades 7 -12 to show proof of vaccination against the bacteria.

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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