Pertussis epidemic in Oklahoma. Difficulties in preventing transmission.

From Jan 1 to Dec 31, 1983, 351 cases of pertussis were reported in Oklahoma. Overall, 59% of the cases were among children 3 months to 6 years of age, the target age group for pertussis vaccination; only 42% of the patients in this age group were appropriately immunized for age with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine (DTP). A survey of 185 households in the neighborhoods of three cases found that only 65% of 57 children 3 months to 6 years of age were appropriately immunized for their age.

Trends and patterns in characteristics of local health administrators.

A survey of 1251 local health departments in 1980-81 (response rate 54 per cent) revealed that 74 per cent of those responding were healed by males, 96 per cent by Whites, 16 per cent by directors 60 or over. Forty per cent of the directors were physicians, a substantially lower percentage than that reported a decade ago. Physicians and males were most prevalent in large departments.