Whooping cough case triggers warning in Northern B.C.

B.C.'s Northern Health Authority is warning families to watch out for whooping cough, after confirming a case was detected at the Ness Lake Bible Camp camp this summer.

Health authority spokesman Jonathan Dyck says there are 18 confirmed cases of pertussis in the region, but that number matches the expected number for this time of year.

Nevertheless, Dyck says outbreaks are often just a plane ride away, noting a whooping cough outbreak has been declared in Northern Alberta and parts of Saskatchewan.

Northern Health last issued a warning about the disease last April after an increase in cases was detected.

Symptoms and immunization

According to the B.C Health authorities, whooping cough, which is also called pertussis, "is a highly infectious respiratory bacterial condition that affects all ages, with the most vulnerable group infants under a year old."

• In un-immunized infants, pertussis can be a serious disease which starts with similar symptoms to a common cold (such as a runny nose, sore throat, and mild fever) progressing into a cough.
• The cough can become severe, with or without a classic whooping sound and may be accompanied by gasping, gagging, shortness of breathing and vomiting, and may lead to pneumonia.
• Newborns whose mothers contract pertussis two to three weeks prior to their delivery are at high risk for severe pertussis disease and its complications.
• The best way to protect your children against pertussis is to get them immunized.
• The pertussis vaccine is part of the routine childhood vaccinations that are given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 18 months old, and again at age 4 to 6 years (before Kindergarten).
• A pertussis vaccine is also given to teens at 14 to 16 years of age (Grade 9) in British Columbia.
• Adults can also get protection from the vaccination.