July 28--Because of the severity of the whooping cough epidemic in California, the state now recommends that anyone over the age of 7 be immunized for the disease.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, can be fatal in infants under six months, and in the past seven months, six infants have died in the state, and more than 1,500 cases have been confirmed. There have been 44 confirmed cases in Merced County.

"We are sending what we call a 'fax blast' to all providers in the county," said Richard Rios, the community health services manager for Merced County. The faxes include a health advisory with expanded pertussis recommendations.

Those recommendations include considering the diagnosis in a patient, testing for pertussis, treating for pertussis, reporting the disease and preventing it.

Rios said the state has also expanded recommendations on who should get the pertussis shots. Those include anyone over the age of 7 who isn't fully immunized, including those who are more than 64 years old; women of child-bearing age before, during or immediately after pregnancy; and anyone who might have contact with pregnant women or infants.

Dr. Najeeb Ansari, a Merced pediatrician, said he's getting a lot of questions about pertussis at his practice at Kids' Care in Merced.

"People are asking questions, asking where they can get the shots," Ansari said.

Ansari said children usually get a series of vaccinations before they enter kindergarten, but those shots wear off by the time they are 10 or 11.