Whooping cough cases spreading, AHS urges vaccinations

By KENDALL KING on April 12, 2023.

Whooping cough is continuing to spread within the southern region of the province, although no cases have yet been reported in Medicine Hat.

An outbreak of whooping cough, or pertussis, was first declared in Alberta Health Service’s South zone on Jan. 26, when a total of 16 cases were reported within the County of Lethbridge, Coaldale, Taber, Vauxhall, Grassy Lake and Bow Island.

However, as of April 6, the outbreak has expanded to the County of Forty Mile, Seven Persons and Fort Macleod, as well as Willingdon and Red Deer in the Central zone, and has grown to a total number of 114 cases.

The majority of the cases remain concentrated in the South zone and are predominantly reported among children aged one to nine. The cases are most common among populations with significantly low childhood immunization rates.

With the number of cases continuing to rise, health officials are urging Albertans in the South zone, and across the province, ensure they are immunized for whooping cough in an effort to protect against it.

“Whooping cough is a contagious respiratory illness,” Dr. Allison Gonsalves, South zone medical officer of health, told the News. “For the first week of symptoms it includes cold-like symptoms, so things like a runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and a mild, occasional cough. However, it does progress in the second week, to very forceful, powerful coughing spasms with an inspiratory whoop or vomiting, and this can last for up to 10 weeks.

“Unfortunately, there are complications associated with pertussis … including things like pneumonia, seizures, encephalopathy – which is an issue with the brain – and even death. So it’s really important that people stay up to date (with immunization).”

Transmitted through airborne droplets or direct contact with the secretions of an infected individual, whooping cough is highly contagious, with transmission often occurring within households and public spaces like schools.

While immunization does not guarantee protection against whooping cough, Gonsalves says it increases an individual’s resistance by roughly 80-85 per cent after three doses.

To effectively prevent spread of pertussis within a community, experts recommend an immunization coverage rate of roughly 94 per cent. Alberta currently falls under that recommended threshold, a factor which likely plays part in the ongoing outbreak, says Gonsalves.

In Alberta, the whooping cough immunization (dTap) is recommended and free to children under the age of 18, individuals in their third trimester of pregnancy and all adults within 10-year intervals.

Whooping cough immunizations are available through community health services and select pharmacies.