An outbreak of whooping cough in California has drawn the attention of health officials in Hawaii.
State Department of Health spokeswoman Janice Okubo told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that there have been 58 reported cases of whooping cough in Hawaii this year, compared with 46 cases last year.
More than 6,200 cases of the disease have been reported in California this year. Ten infants have died.
In October, a federal panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, recommended that people 65 and older who are around infants get vaccinated against whooping cough.
In Honolulu, the city Emergency Services Department is offering vaccinations to employees. It has administered 70 doses, representing about a third of its personnel.
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Information from: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, http://www.staradvertiser.com