Lethbridge Community Health Centre. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Whooping cough infections slowing in Southern Alberta, but the fight is not over

Nov 21, 2019 | 1:38 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Alberta Health Services has confirmed 59 cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, in the South Zone as of November 21st.

An outbreak of the disease was declared on October 16th when 42 were confirmed in the region.

Lead Medical Health Officer Dr. Vivien Suttorp says the numbers have slowed down since whooping cough first started taking off this year, but adds that we are not in the clear.

“We have seen an increase in whooping cough cases over the years – even the last 11 years that I’ve been here – so much so that, throughout the year, we get cases of whooping cough that are locally-acquired.”

Of the five Alberta Health Zones, the South has more diagnosed cases than Central and Edmonton. Only the North and Calgary have more than the South zone.

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Province-wide, 291 cases have been confirmed.

The number of confirmed cases, however, only tells part of the story. Suttorp explains that not everyone who contracts whooping cough seeks medical attention and not everyone who does gets a confirmed diagnosis of it.

It has been mainly contained to areas like Fort Macleod, Raymond, Lethbridge, Lethbridge County, Taber, and Bow Island up to this point.

Dr. Suttorp says there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to prevention and treatment.

Since most who are vaccinated do not contract pertussis and those who do tend to not get it as seriously, she is asking everyone to get their shots.

This is especially important for pregnant women.

“Pregnant women are offered a dose of vaccine in every pregnancy in third trimester, and that is not only to protect the mother herself but specifically the newborn.”

If you know you have been in contact with someone who has whooping cough, she is asking that you seek medical attention immediately.

“There is an antibiotic that can be provided early on in the disease. If you have an ongoing cough and the other symptoms of runny nose and fever go away, get checked out by your physician to make sure this is not whooping cough.”

Dr. Suttorp says influenza is also on the rise in the region lately. Similar messages apply for the flu as whooping cough.