The recent figures claim that more than 6,200 Californians have been engulfed by the whooping cough, marking its biggest epidemic to hit the state since 1950, outlined the California Department of Public Health.

According to the recent estimations released by the department, over 6,257 cases of whooping cough have been reported as of late Tuesday, reflecting a rise of over 279 cases from last week.

In addition, ten deaths reported because of the same involved infants younger than three months, claimed the health officials.

In addition, they revealed that all the death cases involving babies this year were too young to get the full immunization. Hence, health officials have called the parents and caretakers to take the booster shots so that vulnerable children are immune to the disease.

Amidst of alarming figures and endless recommendation from the state health officials to resort to vaccines, some doctors are reported to have told the elderly patients that they cannot be delivered with an inoculation for whooping cough.

The illness is claimed to be highly contagious and has characteristics similar to common cold. A persistent and week-standing cough might link to whooping cough, which is also known as pertussis.