The Brant County Health Unit (BCHU) has identified 12 confirmed cases of pertussis (commonly referred to as whooping cough) in residents of Brantford-Brant.
This activity is significantly higher than what is typical for the community. There has not been a confirmed case of pertussis in Brantford-Brant since 2020.
The ages of the affected individuals range from 0 to 41 years of age. All 12 cases were acquired from within the community and occurred within the past two months.
Pertussis is a disease of the respiratory tract that makes it hard to clear mucus from the throat and lungs. It is caused by bacteria. Pertussis can occur at any age and some groups are more vulnerable to severe infection, including infants under one year of age
“Pertussis is a serious illness, but it is very much preventable. It is particularly dangerous for babies and young children. I urge residents of Brantford-Brant to ensure they or their children are up to date with the vaccines included in Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedule, so we can protect those most vulnerable in our community,” said Dr. Rebecca Comley, Medical Officer of Health, Brant County Health Unit
It typically takes six to 20 days to develop symptoms of pertussis after coming into contact with an infected person. Pertussis symptoms can include:
- Runny nose and cough.
- The cough becoming more frequent and severe.
- Coughing spells may end in gagging, vomiting or trouble breathing.
- Sometimes after a coughing attack, the individual may give a loud “whoop” sound when breathing in.
Pertussis is spread through the air or by touching things an infected person has touched. Those with pertussis are contagious from the time they have the first symptoms until three weeks after the coughing attacks start or five days after effective treatment.
If you suspect you or your child may have pertussis, speak to your primary healthcare provider about testing and medical treatment.
Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease. You can protect yourself and your children against pertussis by staying up to date on your routine immunizations. For the best and continuing protection, multiple doses of pertussis-containing vaccines are recommended throughout your lifetime as outlined in Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedule.
Vaccination against pertussis (as well as several other diseases of public health significance) is a requirement, as part of the Immunization of School Pupils Act, for children to attend school or daycare.
If you have any questions, you can contact the Infectious Diseases team at Brant County Health Unit 519-753-4937 ext. 454.
For more information about pertussis, please visit the BCHU website.
