The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) is urging residents to ensure they are fully vaccinated against pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, as the region experiences a rise in cases. EOHU issued this alert on Friday.
Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, EOHU’s Medical Officer of Health, emphasized the urgency, noting a significant increase in cases. Ontario has reported 280 cases so far this year, compared to 190 during the same period last year. Six of these cases were reported in the past week alone.
Ottawa Public Health reported eight cases in the city this year, surpassing the total for 2023 but still below the pre-pandemic average of 27 cases annually. Similarly, Quebec and New Brunswick have also seen a rise in whooping cough cases this month.
Local pediatrician and University of Ottawa lecturer Dr. Jane Liddle stressed the importance of vaccination. “You might have a mild case of whooping cough and recover fine, but you could also spread it to someone highly vulnerable, like an infant, an elderly person, or someone with chronic illness,” she said.
Dr. Roumeliotis noted that most whooping cough cases in eastern Ontario have occurred among unvaccinated individuals. The EOHU continues to encourage vaccination to help curb the spread of this potentially serious illness.
