Czech whooping cough spread accelerates, three dead

PRAGUE, Apr 15 (AFP): The Czech Republic has been hit by a soaring number of whooping cases and the fast growing outbreak has killed three people, health authorities said on Monday.

The country of 10.9 million people has registered 7,888 cases of the respiratory illness this year, said the State Institute of Public Health.

Last week, health authorities registered 1,494 new cases, the fastest weekly growth this year. Some 183 are in hospital.

The spread is the worst since 1959 when vaccinations started, official health records have shown.

Vaccination is mandatory in the Czech Republic, but it is not for life and some people refuse.

Teenagers are the worst-hit age group as parents often ignore the recommended revaccination at the age of 10-11 years, chief public health officer Pavla Svrcinova said.

"Of the total number, 5,808 people were vaccinated," the state institute said on its website.