Case Study: A Preventable Disease
The state of Washington has seen a rise in a disease this year (2012) that can now be considered an epidemic. Case numbers as of July topped 3000, when in the previous year the state saw less than a 1000 cases, most of which occurred in the latter half of the year. The CDC warns that the country could see the highest cases since 1959. The disease is caused by a highly contagious bacterial that infects the epithelial cells of the lung and prevents, through a cytotoxin, ciliated cells of the respiratory track from beating. The infection usually lasts 6 weeks, and presents as a common cold. The most notable symptom, especially in younger children are coughing fits that can last minutes and may result in vomiting, bruised or cracked ribs, and even can lead to seizures. The disease is particularly dangerous with infants, in which 13 fatalities have been reported so far this year. While half the cases of whooping cough in 2012 have occurred in six states (PA included) where philosophical vaccination refusal is permitted, low vaccination numbers does not seem to be the only reason for this diseases epidemiology.
Questions
Q1. What is the disease, and etiology?
Q2. Do adults get this disease, and is it different?
Q3. What is believed to be the other reason (besides low vaccination rate) for the rise in this disease?
Q4. Does the vaccine even work?
Q5. Why are infants at such great risk?
Q6. Can this bacteria be eliminated or even eradicated?