Pertussis outbreak is over: AHS
By Kalinowski, Tim on February 7, 2020.
Lethbridge Herald
Alberta Health Services has officially declared this season’s pertussis outbreak in the South Zone over.
AHS originally informed the public of the local outbreak on Oct. 15, and confirms this most recent event had 34 confirmed cases and two probable cases of pertussis, with no hospitalizations or deaths. The cases were located in Raymond, Lethbridge, Purple Springs, Picture Butte, Nobleford, Bow Island, Taber and Diamond City.
AHS reports 63 cases of pertussis in the South Zone altogether in 2019, up from 45 confirmed cases the year before.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a bacterial infection that causes severe coughing that may last for weeks – and can impact all age groups; however, infants one year of age and younger are at greatest risk of serious complications, including pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage and even death.
Additional information about pertussis and the importance of immunization is available online at http://immunizealberta.ca/i-need-know-more/diseases-covered/pertussis-whooping-cough.
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