Officials: California's Whooping Cough Epidemic to Worsen

One baby so far has died of whooping cough this year in California.

The worst epidemic of whooping cough since the disease's new vaccine was introduced, and the worst outbreak of any kind in 70 years, is underway, and the vaccine is to blame, according to reports.

NBC News notes health officials have acknowledged the situation is bad, and likely to get worse, with one baby succumbing to the disease and 9,935 people becoming sick.

The new vaccine is "gentler" and weaker, with effects wearing off more quickly and more cases of the disease resulting.

There are 26 cases of the disease per 100,000 people, but 175 cases per 100,000 people for infants under the age of 1, according to USNews.com.

And this "new normal" of higher infection rates is likely to continue until new vaccines come out, according to a California Department of Health report.

The vaccine is called Tdap, and women are encouraged to get vaccinated in the last weeks of pregnancy to avoid their babies falling ill.

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