The outbreak of pertussis (whooping cough) that was declared in January is growing in the Alberta Health Services (AHS) south zone and cases have now been identified in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. AHS says there have now been 146 confirmed cases, compared to 126 that were confirmed as of April 20. Five children have required hospitalization since the outbreak was declared.
“Cases have been identified at schools and other community locations such as churches and sites where children gather to take lessons. Public Health is unable to identify linkages between most of the recent cases, indicating there is likely more disease circulating in communities that is not being reported,” reads a news release from AHS.
Most of the cases are in children between one and nine years old and officials say some adults have also been affected. Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that causes severe and prolonged coughing that lasts for weeks. It can impact people of all ages but infants one year and younger are at greatest risk of serious complications.
AHS is issuing a reminder to all people of the importance of immunization, particularly in small children, to prevent further illness.
BACKGROUND: Southern Alberta Whooping Cough outbreak grows, spreads into AHS central zone