It's in the region and residents are being urged to take precautions.
Cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have recently been diagnosed in the Sunrise Health Region (SHR).
Pertussis is a serious bacterial infection of the respiratory (breathing) system. Anyone can get pertussis, but the disease is most severe in children less than one year when it can be fatal. This disease is also severe in pregnant women in the last trimester of pregnancy as it can be passed to the newborn with the potential to cause severe complications and death.
During the last three years, there have been five deaths in Saskatchewan due to pertussis in infants younger than six months.
Dr. Mandiangu Nsungu, Medical Health Officer for Sunrise says the germ is spread very easily by infected people when they cough, sneeze or have close contact with others. Pertussis can easily spread from person to person, especially among people of the same household, school or day care.
Early symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, a fever and a cough. Over time, the cough gets worse, leading to severe coughing spells with a whooping sound before the next breath and often ends in vomiting. The cough can last up to two months and can make it very hard to breathe. Young infants may not have these exact symptoms, and a parent or caregiver may not realize how sick their baby really is.
"Once a person has had pertussis, they do not develop life-long protection and may get the disease again," adds Nsungu. "Please see your Family Physician as soon as possible for assessment if you experience signs suggestive of pertussis.
"I would like to take this opportunity to remind parents and guardians to ensure that your children's vaccination is up to date. If you are a care giver of a young infant, or if you need more information, please consult your local Public Health Nurse."
Public Health Nurses can be contacted in Kamsack at 542-4295 extension 202; in Norquay at 594-2262; in Preeceville at 547-2815; in Canora at 563-1259. A complete listing of public health offices in the Sunrise Health Region can be found on the health region website www.sunrisehealthregion.sk.ca.
Pertussis can be prevented by a vaccine given in childhood and in Grade 8. As a way of protecting infants, especially those below the age of six months, the health region also provides the vaccine to caregivers of babies up to six months of age.
