Whooping cough is being reported in higher than usual numbers this year in some parts of Canada, health officials told CTVNews.ca.
Cases of whooping cough, also known as whooping cough or 100-day cough, are increasing in several provinces and territories, a spokesperson for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada said in an email Friday.
Health Canada describes the disease as a contagious infection of the lungs and respiratory tract. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which is transmitted through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Joshua Coke said a surge in activity after the pandemic was not unexpected, as case numbers hit record lows between 2020 and 2022. But, he said, cases in five provinces have now surpassed the pre-pandemic peak.
Provinces that have seen more cases this year than in the past are Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Canadian health officials have reported 19,000 cases of whooping cough so far this year, Coke said. In addition to provinces reporting higher-than-usual case numbers, outbreaks or increases have been observed in Alberta, British Columbia and Nunavut.
According to Health Canada’s website last updated in January 2020, the country typically sees between 1,000 and 3,000 cases a year.
Does whooping cough still exist in Canada?
One of the most popular pertussis-related queries Canadians type into search engines is whether the disease still exists in Canada.
While cases are still reported each year, the country’s top doctor mentioned whooping cough in a year-end interview with The Canadian Press about his biggest health concerns heading into 2025.
“There is an increase in the circulation of a number of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles and whooping cough,” said Dr. Theresa Tam.
Whooping cough has been controlled by vaccination for years, he said, adding that one reason it may be making a comeback is the disruption of routine childhood vaccinations due to the pandemic.
“We are not yet back to pre-pandemic vaccine coverage levels,” he told CP.
What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
As the name suggests, coughing is the most recognizable symptom of whooping cough. Health Canada says it can cause “severe coughing fits that can cause choking or vomiting.
“The cough can be so bad that a ‘wheezing’ sound occurs when you try to catch your breath.”
Listen to the sound of this distinctive cough here.
While it initially presents as a cold, with a runny nose, fever and mild cough, anyone with a severe or prolonged cough should see a doctor to be diagnosed, Health Canada says.
Additional symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, and may include difficulty breathing and poor feeding, especially in babies.
Complications include weight loss and pneumonia, and health officials say rib fractures, rectal prolapse, urinary incontinence, seizures and brain damage are possible.
Typically, infants are most at risk for severe symptoms, while teens and adults may see milder symptoms or may even be asymptomatic. Still, even mild, asymptomatic cases are a source of infection, health officials warn, especially in the first two weeks after cough onset.
Will whooping cough go away on its own?
Health Canada warns that whooping cough can last weeks or months if untreated and, in some cases, can cause brain damage or death.
Doctors say it’s especially dangerous for babies.
Whooping cough treatment
Doctors diagnose whooping cough using a combination of laboratory test results and the patient’s symptoms.
It is usually treated with antibiotics. Those who have been diagnosed are advised to avoid having children until they have received antibiotics for at least five days, Health Canada says.
Public health officials tell those not receiving treatment to avoid contact with everyone and to remain isolated for three weeks after the cough starts or until it ends.
How Whooping Cough Outbreaks Are Controlled
Whooping cough is considered a “nationally notifiable disease” in Canada, meaning it is an illness that PHAC tracks across the country, with reports from provincial and territorial health officials. It is monitored through the Canadian Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, which has been created to track the transmission of infectious diseases.
This system was created for the monitoring and control of specific diseases considered priority, such as leprosy, cholera, measles, anthrax, chickenpox and meningitis. It has been around since the 1920s.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
