As people prepare to spend quality time with family and friends over the holidays, health officials in Elgin are sounding the alarm over the continued spread of whooping cough.
Between mid-October and the start of December, there have been 74 cases of Pertussis, more commonly know as whooping cough, reported to Elgin St. Thomas Public Health. Of those cases, 83% were among those under the age of 16.
The infection often begins with mild cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, but can worsen with prolonged coughing spells that end with a high-pitched “whooping” sound. Coughing fits can also become so severe they cause vomiting.
"The population that we are most concerned about pertussis spreading to is infants under the age of a year and particularly under six months because their airways and muscles are so small that they sometimes can end up getting quite sick with it," said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joyce Lock. "Infants can sometimes even stop breathing and that can lead to death if not caught fast enough."
Lock expects the number of reported cases to rise after the holidays as visiting family and friends may inadvertently share germs and unwanted infections, including whooping cough.
"People should be aware that if they have a respiratory virus it can spread to other people so it is better for everybody if they try to stay at home. People should check that their vaccines for pertussis are up to date and if not they should see their health care provider about getting the pertussis vaccine," said Lock. "If they have symptoms where they are concerned they might be getting pertussis, then they should seek care from their health care provider quickly. If you catch the infection early then you can get antibiotics and that will shorten the course down, so you will be sick for a much shorter period."
Frequent hand washing, covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and refraining from sharing drinks and utensils can also help stop the spread of whooping cough.
The Middlesex London Health Unit reported an increase in whooping cough cases in October.