Increase in whooping cough cases prompts North Bay health unit to hold vaccine clinics

Two additional whooping cough vaccine clinics are being held in West Nipissing. Especially at risk are those whose vaccines are not up-to-date, are under one year of age, people in their third trimester of pregnancy and staff who work in childcare facilities. (File)

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit said Monday it has seen more cases of whooping cough in the West Nipissing region and across the health unit’s district.

Because the pertussis or whooping cough cases don’t have epidemiological links, “we can say with much certainty that there is community spread and other undetected cases in the district,” the health unit said in a news release.

“Whooping cough is different from a mild cough or the flu. It is a highly contagious respiratory infection. It is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, making childcare settings a potential environment for transmission.”

Two additional whooping cough vaccine clinics are being held in West Nipissing. Especially at risk are those whose vaccines are not up-to-date, are under one year of age, people in their third trimester of pregnancy and staff who work in childcare facilities.

The first clinic will be held June 19 at Golden Age Club in Field, 65 Jarbeau St. Field, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The second is June 21 at the Community Health Centre, West Nipissing, 68 Michaud St. Sturgeon Falls, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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