Whooping cough cases on the rise in Ottawa, as the vaccine-preventable disease resurges globally

Health officials are the public to make sure their children are up-to-date with vaccines, as cases of whooping cough spike in the the city.

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Published Sep 11, 2024  •  1 minute read

CHEO, where officials are warning the public of a rise in whooping cough. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

Health officials are urging parents and caregivers to make sure their children are up-to-date with routine vaccines, as cases of whooping cough spike in Ottawa.

So far in 2024, CHEO has seen 90 children with pertussis, also known as whooping cough, compared to just six in all of 2023.

The vaccine-preventable disease is characterized by severe coughing spells that often end with a “whoop” sound when an infected person tries to catch their breath. The disease has recently resurfaced and infection rates have been growing around the world.

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The illness usually begins with cold-like symptoms and can evolve over weeks to include coughing spells. Infants in the first year of life are most at risk of severe infection.

Routine vaccines are especially important for pregnant women to protect their newborns, CHEO said in a statement released Wednesday. Multiple doses of vaccines are given, starting when infants are two months old.

Vaccine clinics are being held as part of the Kids Come First — Vaccinate and Up-To-Date campaign. Appointments are available here.

CHEO officials advise families who suspect their child has whooping cough to wear masks, wash hands frequently and cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing to prevent further spread.

Children who have difficulty breathing or are unable to take in enough liquid should be taken to the nearest emergency department, CHEO advises.

In addition to the 90 patients CHEO has seen, Ottawa Public Health says it has received reports of another 25 people with confirmed or probable pertussis in Ottawa since the beginning of 2024.  That is a sharp increase from a year earlier when seven cases were reported across the city for the entire year. Prior to the pandemic, an average of 27 cases were reported in Ottawa per year, according to Ottawa Public Health.

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