Whooping cough confirmed at Fredericton school

Public Heath has confirmed a case of whooping cough at Devon Middle School in Fredericton.

The Regional Medical Officer of Health,Na-KoshieLampteynotified the school Saturday.

A notice was sent out to all parents and guardians the same day with a link to an information sheet about the illness.

The bacterial infection, which oftenbut not always,causes a "whoop" soundwhen breathing or coughing, can be particularly dangerous for very young babies. The disease can lead to hospitalization and, in rare cases, death.

Infants, especially those under four months of age, are at risk for life-threatening complications such as pneumonia; an inability to breathe (apnea); seizures; and brain damage.

Highly contagious disease

Pertussis often mimics cold viruses in its symptoms runny nose, nasal congestion, red and watery eyes, and fever but its signature hallmark is a cough and severe wheezing that can persist for weeks. As with a cold and the flu, the highly contagious disease is passed through saliva and mucus from person to person.

Lampteyurges those who develop the symptoms to see their family doctor. A test will confirm if symptoms are fromwhooping cough and Public Health will be notified.

Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics.

Lamptey advises parents and guardians to ensure allrecommended immunizations are up to date. Whooping cough can be prevented with thepertussisvaccine.

The last whooping cough outbreak in the province was in 2015 with most casesin the Moncton area.

Adults should consider booster doses

ButDr. IsaacSobol, regional medical officer in Saint John,says whooping cough is common in theprovince with an average of 70 cases a year.

Children entering school should be protected against pertussisbecause of thepublicly funded immunization program in place, howeveroutbreaks can still happen, he said.

"It's not that unexpected. It couldhappen for a number of reasons. Either the vaccine wasn't 100 per cent effective...and a child many have missed their immunization."

Sobolsaid adults should also be getting apertussis booster shot.

"They ought to talk to their health care provider and make sure that they are up to date as well."

By having these booster doses, a people arenot only protecting themselves but their families and community as well.

Public health officials in Prince Edward Island said there were52 confirmed and probable casesthere asof April 1. They said they believe the worst of the outbreak is over.