Interior Health has raised the alarm over an outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis) in the West Kootenay.

There have been 19 cases of the contagious bacterial disease diagnosed in the region over the last three weeks, a number that doctors say is higher than normal.

“This is a higher number of cases of whooping cough than we would normally see,” said IHA medical health officer, Dr. Rob Parker. “In December and January of last year there were no pertussis cases, with only three cases in total for the two years prior to this outbreak.”

The illness starts like a common cold with low-grade fever and a mild cough, but severe coughing spells that often end with a ‘whoop’ can develop within one to two weeks.

Pregnant women and children under a year old are at greatest risk from whooping cough and it can lead to hospitalization or death for infants.

Children are normally vaccinated against pertussis as infants, but Interior Health said that almost all of the children who’ve contracted the cough were not vaccinated.

The West Kootenay has the lowest childhood immunization in the whole Interior Health region, with only 69 per cent of infants and toddlers vaccinated for pertussis by age two.

Parker said unvaccinated children are not only at risk to themselves, but also pose a risk to others because they can contract and spread the illness.

“I would advise all parents with un-immunized infants and children to seriously consider getting them immunized,” he said. “The modern acellular pertussis vaccine is very safe and effective.”

During the outbreak infants will be offered their first pertussis vaccination earlier, starting at six weeks of age, with an accelerated vaccination schedule after the first inoculation.

Pregnant women in their third trimester and parents of infants who have been exposed to pertussis should see their family doctor to get treatment.

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