Since the beginning of the year, 450 cases of whooping cough have been registered in Estri

“We are currently seeing the presence of whooping cough in several primary and secondary schools. We would like to advise you that transmission of this contagious disease may still occur in the coming days and weeks,” writes Regional Director of Public Health Dr. Isabelle Samson in a letter to parents, including Gallery received a copy.

In an email, the communications department of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS clarifies that “in 2024, more than 450 cases of the disease were confirmed in the region.” Currently, the situation remains stable: about 30 cases per week.

On February 16, it was about 80 cases recorded since December 2023. This means that more than 370 new cases of whooping cough have been reported since then.

By comparison, according to data published by the CIUSSS in 2019, the average annual number of whooping cough cases in Estrie is around a dozen.

“The age group 10–14 years is most affected, followed by the group 15–19 years, which together account for 66.5% of estria cases,” explains the CIUSSS.

Estrie Public Health also took the time to meet with the management of school service centers in the region, as well as private school management, to raise awareness of the disease, in particular to equip staff to recognize its symptoms.

The bacteria that causes whooping cough can cause “serious complications” in “premature babies, babies under 6 months of age, and children 6 to 12 months of age who have not received the first three doses of vaccine.” [contre la coqueluche] and unborn children of pregnant women at the end of their pregnancy,” the health service said earlier this year.

Due to its long duration, which can reach several weeks, the disease is easily transmitted between members of the same family or young people attending the same school.

Symptoms may include, but are not limited to, a runny nose, coughing fits, vomiting, or low-grade fever.

“A person diagnosed with whooping cough will be instructed to stay away from school and should avoid contact with at-risk people while they are infectious. Drug treatment shortens the duration of contagiousness,” Dr. Samson noted in his letter to parents.

The CIUSSS de l’Estri-CHUS advises people whose whooping cough symptoms worsen to consult their family doctor or call 811.

Hand washing, mask wearing and vaccination are encouraged to reduce the spread.