Whooping cough outbreak continues with eight new confirmed cases
By Contributor
Interior Health continues to address an outbreak of pertussis (Whooping Cough), with 25 total cases diagnosed in the Kootenay Boundary in just over the last two months.
“We have had six additional cases since our initial press release on Feb. 4 announcing the outbreak,” said Dr. Rob Parker, IH Medical Health Officer. “My continued plea to parents with unimmunized infants and children would be to seriously consider getting them immunized.
“The modern acellular pertussis vaccine is very safe and effective in preventing the contraction and spread of this disease.”
An analysis of the initial 22 cases of whooping cough shows the outbreak is spreading primarily among unimmunized infant/toddlers and preschoolers.
“We need high immunization levels of greater than 90 per cent among all children to provide herd immunity protection for infants, who are most at risk,” stated Parker. “All infants should be immunized as well.”
Kootenay Boundary has the lowest childhood immunization rate in Interior Health, with only 69 per cent of infants and toddlers being fully immunized with a pertussis-containing vaccine by age two.
During this outbreak, infants will be offered routine vaccines, including pertussis, beginning at six weeks of age and on an accelerated schedule to provide as much protection as soon as possible.
Public Health nursing staff continues additional efforts to contact parents of unimmunized and under-immunized children to book appointments for immunization to help protect their children from pertussis disease.
Pertussis is a contagious bacterial disease of the lungs and throat that is spread through coughing or sneezing by an infected person. It starts like a common cold, low-grade fever and a mild cough. Severe coughing spells that often end with a whoop can develop in one to two weeks. Pregnant women in their 3rd trimester and infants under one year of age are at greatest risk of disease. Pertussis is especially serious for infants, and may lead to hospitalization and even death.
Pregnant women in their third trimester and parents of infants that have been exposed to pertussis will be notified by Public Health with recommendations to see their family doctor for antibiotics to prevent infection. Others who have been exposed should consult their doctor if they develop illness consistent with pertussis.
Comments