WHOOPING COUGH CASES IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HAVE QUADRUPLED SINCE LAST YEAR. HEALTH OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE RISE IS DUE TO A HIGH NUMBER OF PARENTS WHO DECLINE TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN FULLY IMMUNIZED. THE DISEASE STARTS OFF LIKE A COMMON COLD, WITH THE FIRST SYMPTOMS SHOWING UP 4- TO 21 DAYS AFTER EXPOSURE, STARTING AS A MILD COUGH THAT WORSENS OVER THE FOLLOWING WEEKS. MOST PEOPLE GRADUALLY RECOVER, HOWEVER A SIMILAR OUT-BREAK IN 2010 DID KILL 10 CHILDREN STATEWIDE.
