A whooping cough outbreak in the North Zone of the province has been declared by Alberta Health Services, as of last week.
On Wednesday, AHS released information stating there were a number of confirmed cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, across Alberta. The provincial health care body encouraged people to get immunized against the illness.
“Immunization is available by appointment at public health and community health centres across the zone,” says an AHS media release. “Pertussis is a bacterial infection that causes severe coughing that lasts for weeks and can lead to pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage and even death.”
Babies six months and younger are at greatest risk for serious complications.
This year, there have been 182 confirmed cases of whooping cough in the North Zone. Three have required hospitalization. About half of all confirmed pertussis cases in the province are from the North Zone.
Although pertussis can be treated when it’s caught early, immunization can safely prevent the disease, or reduce the severity and spread of the illness, according to AHS.
The whooping cough immunization is offered free of charge in Alberta and is part of the routine immunization childhood program. Doses are given at two months of age, four months, six months, and 18 months, then again when children are four to six years old. A final dose is given in Grade 9. An additional dose can also be given in adulthood.
AHS is recommending high-risk North Zone residents follow a number of precautions, such as immunizing children and babies, and ensuring caregivers are also immunized. Women who are more than 26 weeks pregnant can also be immunized, which increases protection for newborn babies by reducing the risk of infection in those around them, and the immunization also transfers antibodies during pregnancy.
Anyone who suspects they, or a family member, is sick with whooping cough should call family doctor or contact Health Link before seeking medical care. When prescribed treatment, those diagnosed with pertussis should stay home from work, school and child care until five days of antibiotics have been completed.
