Interior Health has identified a cluster of pertussis (whooping cough) in the City of Nelson.
Whooping cough is a contagious bacterial disease of the lungs and throat that is easily spread through coughing or sneezing by an infected person.
Medical Health Officer Dr. Jonathan Malo says the city has seen a handful of cases, but IH has been unable to establish links between the cases, meaning there are likely several other cases in the city that haven’t been detected yet.
Early symptoms of whooping cough are similar to those of a typical cold, but the infection can spread to others during the early stages when symptoms are not severe. If left untreated, the infection can spread for up to three weeks after the cough starts.
It starts like a common cold, with a low-grade fever and a mild cough. Severe coughing spells that often end with a whoop can develop within one to two weeks.
Dr. Malo says pregnant women in their third trimester and infants under one year of age are at greatest risk.
“Another group that we really try to get vaccinated is pregnant mothers. They are recommended to receive a whooping cough vaccine in every pregnancy, between their second and third trimesters, as they can pass on their antibodies to their babies, giving them some protection during those first few months of life before they can actually start receiving their childhood vaccinations, which include whooping cough.”
An immunization program is in place in Nelson at the Nelson Health Centre, located at 333 Victoria Street.
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