Hope Residents Should Be Alert for Whooping Cough

Residents of the Hope area should be alert for the signs and symptoms of whooping cough (pertussis). Since August more than 20 cases of whooping cough have been reported there - 15 of these in December.

The best protection against whooping cough is vaccination. Pertussis in very young children can lead to hospitalization and even death. Parents are encouraged to ensure their children are fully immunized.

The vaccine that most people get when they are infants only offers protection for 4-10 years so there are many people without adequate coverage.

Free booster vaccine is being offered to adult residents of Hope who are in regular contact with young children. If you have not had a booster in the last five years and are in regular with a child under one, please call the Hope Public Health Unit at 604-860-7630. You can also contact your family doctor for the free vaccine.

What is pertussis?

Pertussis (whooping cough) causes very severe coughing that may last for months. Whooping cough is very contagious and can be a severe illness in those without adequate immunizations. Whooping cough spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or laughs, putting bacteria into the air. After the bacteria infect someone, symptoms appear about 7 to 14 days later.

Early symptoms are like a cold (sneezing, runny nose, a low fever and a mild cough). But over the next week or two, the cough gets worse leading to longer coughing spells that often end with a whoop or crowing sound when the person breathes in. The coughing may be so bad that it makes a person gag or throw up.

Sometimes a thick, clear mucous is spit out. The cough can last up to a month or two, and happens more at night.

What should you do if you / you're child develops symptoms?

If you / your child develops cold-like symptoms that you think may be whooping cough, you should see a doctor. Call ahead so that you can be seen quickly and not expose other people by sitting in a waiting room. You may also be examined in an isolation room (if available) and given a mask to wear, or, arrangements may be made for you to attend the clinic at a time when the waiting room is empty. Bring your/your child’s immunization record with you.

Pertussis Vaccine

DTaP is the vaccine that protects against whooping cough and is given at 2 months along with the vaccines for diphtheria and tetanus in a single shot. Tdap is the booster vaccine available for people older than 10 years of age. A booster dose of Tdap is recommended for teens ages 14 to 16. Any adult in the Hope area who has close contact with a baby less than 1 year old and whose last dose of pertussis vaccine was 5 or more years ago is eligible for free pertussis vaccination.

To make an appointment for immunization, please contact your local public health unit during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm).

For more information on pertussis, call HealthLink BC at 811 or view the BC HealthFiles for Pertussis online.