Increased Cases of Whooping Cough in Southern Health

By Angelique Forest

Southern Health has sent out a public notice of an increase in Pertussis (whooping cough) cases, particularly in the southern health region. Dr. Davinder Singh, Medical Officer of Health for Southern HealthSanté Sud cautions parents to prepare themselves for the recorded rise in cases.

The Southern Health region has a recorded 28 cases as of midApril.

“The most important thing people can do is to get immunized. After the first three doses of vaccine, usually given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, the vaccine effectiveness is approximately 85%,” explained Dr. Singh. “After the first booster dose is given, usually at age 18 months, the effectiveness increases to approximately 90%. And for those people who are vaccinated and who do still get an infection after being exposed, the infection is likely less severe.”

Singh continued to explain that since it takes 6 months to finish the first three doses (the primary series), it is also very important for pregnant women to be immunized, usually between 27-32 weeks gestation, to protect their infants through transfer of maternal antibodies. The vaccine effectiveness does wane over time, which is why there are boosters in early childhood, adolescence, and for adults.

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If someone is exposed to a person with pertussis, antibiotics may be recommended to try to prevent infection. This is most important for infants (under age 12 months) and pregnant women in their third trimester. For those with pertussis, antibiotics can help treat the infection to possibly decrease the severity of the illness and help clear the infection sooner, which can prevent transmission to others. Anyone who thinks they have pertussis should contact their healthcare provider.

“Prior to the pandemic, Manitoba would usually experience a spike in cases every 4 to 5 years,” said Singh. “Pertussis is not typically a seasonal infection and can occur at any time of year.”

Increases in cases, whether clusters or outbreaks, tend to occur in under-immunized groups. Southern Health-Santé Sud (SHSS) has a lower rate of pertussis immunization than other regions in Manitoba, explained Singh. The vaccination rate within SHSS is also not uniform across the region. Some communities have extremely low rates of immunization and others have very high rates of immunization. They are seeing most of the cases in areas that have lower rates of immunization. These post-pandemic increases in pertussis are also being seen in some other provinces among under-immunized groups.

“This is why immunization is so important,” he stressed. “Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease, and can cause severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death, particularly in young infants.”

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) is a highly infectious disease which is commonly spread through respiratory droplets in the air formed when coughing or sneezing. It is most contagious during the initial stages of illness, and symptoms initially resemble those of the common cold.

For more information, Families with young children or pregnant women should talk to their healthcare provider, pharmacist or local public health-healthy living office about getting immunized or call Health Links-Info Santé 888-315-9257.