Dozens of babies who were admitted to Beersheva’s Soroka Medical Center were called back into the hospital to receive prophylactic treatment against whooping cough. Health officials’ report that 150 babies born between April 4, 2015 and April 15, 2015 were summoned to the hospital to receive a treatment.

According to the Mayo Clinic, deaths associated with whooping cough are rare but most commonly occur in infants. That’s why it’s so important for pregnant women — and other people who will have close contact with an infant — to be vaccinated against whooping cough

Soroka officials’ explain one of the nurses in the obstetrics ward daled (4) was diagnosed with whooping cough (pertussis). Each baby called in to the hospital will be checked by a physician and receive an oral vaccine. Officials add that among the parents, anyone who has not shown signs and symptoms of the illness to date does not have to be vaccinated as the incubation period for adults is significantly shorter than for the infants and that time period has already passed.

Hospital officials add that there is no reason for panic, adding they simply made the decision to be extremely cautious and call in the babies for treatment to rule out any fears.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)