Cases of a highly contagious respiratory tract infection on the rise in the north
The Sudbury - Manitoulin area is seeing reports of increased infections and community exposures of pertussis, also known as whooping cough.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts issued an advisory alert identifying several cases of the infection locally.
As of Oct. 15, officials said that 32 cases have been reported.
Last year, they said there were seven total in 2023 and none between 2020 and 2022.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
Afzaa Rajabali, a health promoter with Public Health Sudbury & Districts, said there are several factors contributing to the rise in cases.
"Whooping cough, typically, has a cyclical pattern when cases rise every two to five years and in our area," Rajabali said.
"We had a peak in 2019 with 45 cases."
Vaccines to protect against the infection are given starting in infancy, with booster doses recommended in adolescence and adulthood.
"The immunity or protection from the whooping cough vaccine fades over time, particularly after seven to eight years. Therefore, it is important to get your booster doses if you are eligible," Rajabali said.
"Low vaccination rates, including because of the impact of COVID-19, may be playing a role in the global resurgence."
The health promoter said the most important preventative measure is vaccination.
“We ask individuals to ensure you and your family are up to date with your vaccinations," Rajabali said.
"In Ontario, the Tdap vaccine is free of charge. It is safe and it is part of the routine immunization schedule."
Anyone unsure about their vaccination status can contact their health-care provider or public health. Vaccine records can also be submitted online.
Public Health said pertussis can initially mirror a mild respiratory infection or cold.
Sometimes, classic symptoms such as a high-pitched 'whoop' sound, gagging or vomiting don't present until after two or three weeks.
"An infant's symptoms may look like severe coughing, choking after coughing, feeding poorly or having difficulty in breathing," Rajabali said.
"If you have any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider to get assessed and tested.”
For more information visit phsd.ca
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada expands list of banned firearms to include hundreds of new models and variants
The Canadian government is expanding its list of banned firearms, adding hundreds of additional makes, models and their variants, effective immediately.
LIVE UPDATES Water bottle, protein bar wrapper may help identify shooter in UnitedHealthcare CEO's killing
The masked gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson used ammunition emblazoned with the words 'deny,' 'defend' and 'depose,' a law enforcement official said Thursday. Here's the latest.
Man wanted for military desertion turns himself in at Canada-U.S. border
A man wanted for deserting the U.S. military 16 years ago was arrested at the border in Buffalo, N.Y. earlier this week.
Life expectancy in Canada: Up last year, still down compared to pre-pandemic
The average Canadian can expect to live 81.7 years, according to new death data from Statistics Canada. That’s higher than the previous year, but still lower than pre-pandemic levels.
The National Weather Service cancels tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after 7.0 earthquake
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast.
These foods will be hit hardest by inflation in 2025, according to AI modelling
The new year won’t bring a resolution to rising food costs, according to a new report that predicts prices to rise as much as five per cent in 2025.
The world has been warming faster than expected. Scientists now think they know why
Last year was the hottest on record, oceans boiled, glaciers melted at alarming rates, and it left scientists scrambling to understand exactly why.
Pete Davidson, Jason Sudeikis and other former 'SNL' cast members reveal how little they got paid
Live from New York, it’s revelations about paydays on 'Saturday Night Live.'
Saskatoon dog rescue operator ordered to pay $27K for defamatory Facebook posts
A Saskatoon dog rescue operator has been ordered to pay over $27,000 in damages to five women after a judge ruled she defamed them in several Facebook posts.