title: Outbreak of pertussis in Basra, Iraq.
abstract: A total of 133 pertussis cases were studied during an outbreak in Basra from June to December 1996. Most were females and were immunized. Bordetella spp. was isolated in 48.1% of the cases. The isolation rate was highest among infants and decreased with increasing age, and was highest during the catarrhal stage. B. pertussis was the most common species; however, B. parapertussis infection did occur. There were some severe cases of pertussis among infants caused mainly by B. pertussis and dual Bordetella infection. Infection was transmitted by close contact with a pertussis case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Basra, Iraq.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: al-Bargish
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001884:Bordetella / Q000145:classification; D001885:Bordetella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012621:Seasons; D012703:Serotyping; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control