Whooping Cough cases appear to be declining after months of high numbers being reported. The respiratory illness has been making its heavy presence known in Ontario and Québec, impacting local communities in the region.
Updated Public Health Ontario (PHO) numbers have put the Whooping Cough outbreak at 1,475 cases throughout the province as of November 7. Of these, 1,251 have been confirmed and 224 are listed as probable.
In Québec, according to the provincial government, there have been more than 16,000 reported cases in the province, significantly higher than the average of 562 cases between 2015 and 2019.
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) has confirmed that Pertussis cases in the region have begun to drop. Reported numbers from the EOHU placed outbreak numbers at 15 at the end of October with the number dropping to 8 as of November 21.
Communications Consultant Adelina Leonti for the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) des Laurentides confirmed that there has been a total of 1,677 confirmed cases in the region. Similarly to Eastern Ontario numbers, cases have been dropping month-to-month with 109 in October and 39 as of November 20.
“The Laurentides Public Health Department reminds that it is essential to keep your vaccinations up to date and encourages the population to get vaccinated against Whooping Cough to limit the spread of this contagious, infectious disease and protect the most vulnerable,” Leonti said.
While November numbers appear to have the disease on the ropes, vaccinating and taking precautions to protect vulnerable individuals is still important. Most vulnerable populations tend to be infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing medical conditions.
As one of the most common ways to prevent and fight against Whooping Cough, vaccinations work to protect individuals from infection and limit the spread of the disease.
For those in Ontario, vaccination appointments can be made through the EOHU at 613-933-1375, 1-800-267-7120, or by visiting their website: eohu.ca.
Vaccinations are available as part of the Québec Immunization Program, which provides the vaccination free of charge. Appointments can be made by visiting local health clinics, visiting the Clic Santé website: https://portal3.clicsante.ca, by calling 811, option 1, or 1-866-495-5833.
