Ontario is on track to record its highest number of whooping cough cases. While infections are increasing in the eastern provinces, they are decreasing in Quebec. However, experts say it’s difficult to predict the behavior of this highly contagious disease this year.
For the first time since before the pandemic, the disease is spreading widely and is not following the expected pattern, like influenza. However, Dr. Jesse Papenberg, a pediatric infectious disease specialist in Montreal, says that infections tend to increase every few years.
He says, “We are still learning about the public health measures related to the cycle of increased whooping cough infections during a pandemic, as with other respiratory illnesses.”
Pertussis, a vaccine-preventable disease also known as 100-day cough, has surpassed pre-pandemic levels in Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Western regions are experiencing regular infections.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Rogosh says the rate of whooping cough cases is relatively high, especially in Ontario. One adult has died from the disease, although details have not been released. Newborns, infants, and the elderly who are unvaccinated are at risk. However, deaths among adults are still rare.
Dr. Bogosh says, “I don’t know the last time an adult died from whooping cough in Canada. But if we look at history, we will see deaths. We know that, in this case, there are usually underlying health conditions that put people at a higher risk of becoming very ill. And unfortunately, death can occur at any age.”
Ontario has been setting records for whooping cough cases since 2012. According to Public Health Ontario, 1,044 people in Ontario were diagnosed with the disease in 2012. As of September 9th of this year, 1,016 cases have been reported. In June, there were 470 cases, compared to a five-year average of 98 cases. Quebec residents have had the highest number of whooping cough cases this year, with 13,716 cases.
