Pertussis, more commonly known as Whooping Cough, has been rising in the region across the two provinces. Public Health Ontario reported more than 1,000 cases on September 9, while Québec holds the highest count in the country with close to 14,000 cases.
As a highly contagious infection, Whooping Cough is spread through airborne cough droplets. Babies under one year old and pregnant women are most vulnerable, where infection can produce heightened risks and potential hospitalization.
Whooping Cough is a bacterial infection that normally has three stages.
Stage one usually includes a runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, and a mild cough that gradually worsens within the first week or two of infection. Stage two, where bursts of rapid coughing that leave individuals with a “whooping” sound when inhaling, can last anywhere between two and eight weeks. The final stage is typically when individuals begin to recover gradually and can take weeks or even months, depending on whether the person has been taking prescribed antibiotics and other factors.
Some complications are possible for those who have been infected with the contagion including pneumonia, ear infections, and convulsions. Those who have contracted the infection and face serious complications may result in death.
A media representative from the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EHOU) concluded that there were 32 confirmed/probable cases of Whooping Cough in the territory for August, with the total for the year being 107 cases. A previous press release on September 3 from the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) des Laurentides stated that 41 cases were reported mid-May. The number has now exploded to 1405 at the end of August.
The Director of Public Health of the Laurentians, Dr. Eric Goyer, explained, “Whooping Cough is a disease that usually causes outbreaks every 4 to 5 years. The last outbreak dates back to 2019, when just over 300 cases occurred in the region.”
With the help of vaccinations and antibiotics, Whooping Cough’s spread can be greatly reduced. It is recommended that individuals receive all doses between two months and five years old, including a booster dose at 14, and another during adulthood before the age of 65.
The most common and effective way to fight against Whooping Cough and its associated outbreaks is vaccination. Vaccination works to prevent and protect those individuals from infection and limit its spread.
The EHOU has recorded a significant drop in vaccination rates for the Pertussis vaccine among 17-year-olds from the 2019-2020 school year to 2022-2023. In the 2019-2020 school year, 86.3 per cent had received their vaccination. The number drops slightly in the 2020-2021 year to 83.5 per cent, then further to 61.4 per cent in 2021-2022. The 2022-2023 school year by far demonstrates the lowest rate with only 37.3 per cent having received the vaccination.
Dr. Goyer reminded individuals that “vaccination remains the best way to protect against this disease.”
For individuals in the Laurentians, vaccination appointments can be made by using the Clic Santé website or calling 811, utilizing option 1. For those wishing to book an appointment for children six and under, call 450-473-6811 and use extension 44407.
People wishing to be vaccinated or seeking additional information in Eastern Ontario can contact the EOHU at 613-933-1375, 1-800-267-7120, or through their website at eohu.ca.
Anyone who may have been in close contact with someone who has Whooping Cough is encouraged to contact their doctor or local health authority for next steps.
