In mid-December of that year, Idaho led the nation in per capita cases of whooping cough. At its peak, the health district was receiving reports of 11 to 19 cases per day. It runs in cycles every three to five years. It's right on time. Of particular concern are infants younger than one year old.
Pertussis is highly contagious, spread easily through the air by talking, sneezing or coughing.
Immunizations, while advised, don't always prevent pertussis. But they do tend to decrease the symptoms and severity of the disease. They don't necessarily prevent car accidents. But they do prevent death and severity of injury if a car accident occurs. There is no vaccine available for people aged 7 or older, however.