Vancouver Coast Health (VCH) is warning that cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, are on the rise in the Pemberton area and is recommending vaccination.
“People of any age can get pertussis, but young children who have not been immunized get sicker than older children and adults,” wrote VCH in a release. “This disease can cause severe complications such as pneumonia, seizures, brain damage or even death, most often in infants under one year of age.”
VCH underscored the importance of early detection. The disease can be spread easily during early stages of an infection when symptoms are less severe. If left untreated, it can spread up to three weeks after the cough starts.
Pertussis spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes or has close contact with others. Sharing food, drinks and cigarettes or kissing an infected person can also pose a risk.
Early symptoms of pertussis resemble a cold—sneezing, a runny nose, low fever and mild cough. Over a week or two, those symptoms progress to longer coughing spells, often ending with a whoop or crowing sound when the person breathes in. The coughs can also result in vomiting.
Early testing and treatment with antibiotics can reduce the duration or the cough and the likelihood of spreading the disease to others.
The pertussis vaccine is currently recommended and being offered for free to children who have not started on their immunizations or are behind, parents and other household contacts where there are children of less than one year of age and all pregnant people—ideally between 27 and 32 weeks, though as early as 13 weeks up until delivery is still effective.
Children usually receive a pertussis-containing vaccination at two months old, followed by a vaccine at four, six, and 18 months, Kindergarten entry and in Grade nine. To check your child’s immunization records, visit .
If your child is not up to date, you can
Adults are also encouraged to get a pertussis booster. Vaccines are available at Frontier Pharmacy for those ages five and up. Call 604-894-6416 to book an appointment. Members of the Lil’wat First Nation are asked to contact Lil’wat Health & Healing at 604-984-6656.
For more information on pertussis, visit .
