Bos: whooping cough appears

HEALTH. CISSS Chaudière-Appalachia confirms the emergence of pertussis cases in the region. The most active outbreak is at Benoit-Vachon High School in Sainte-Marie, where there are currently 18 cases.

The cases reported to date mainly affect young people of primary and secondary school age, as well as adults under 50 years of age. The regions of Beauce, Etchemins and, more recently, Nouvelle-Beauce are the regions where the largest number of cases have been reported, points out Jessica Poiret from the CISSS Chaudière-Appalaches.

To date, 182 cases have been reported in Chaudière-Appalaches in 2024. Other regions are also affected, such as Estrie, where more than 300 cases were recorded during the same period. The province is currently projected to have about 700 cases in 2024.

“All potential cases are being investigated so we can notify people who may have been in contact with people diagnosed with confirmed cases. In particular, letters are sent to schools,” explains Ms. Poiret.

She adds that people who may have been in contact with confirmed cases and who have symptoms such as low-grade fever; runny nose; redness of the eyes, accompanied by watery eyes, as well as a cough, you should consult a doctor to prescribe an antibiotic if you have been diagnosed with whooping cough, which will shorten the period of their contagiousness.

Ms Poiret adds that public health is offering preventive treatment to vulnerable contacts according to certain criteria, especially some pregnant women and some children under 12 months of age, to prevent cases among people at risk of serious complications.

Vaccination is offered as part of catch-up vaccination for children who were not properly vaccinated during childhood. However, she emphasizes that vaccination does not 100% prevent disease throughout life. The goal of the vaccination program is to prevent complications of whooping cough in the most vulnerable groups of the population, i.e. children under 12 months of age, by vaccinating themselves at 2 and 4 months of age, and by vaccinating pregnant women so that they pass on antibodies to their children.