Manitoba Health is advising adults get vaccinated for whooping cough if they regularly have contact with children.
The province says an increase in whooping cough (pertussis) in several Canadian provinces has prompted the warning about the infection.
Vaccination is especially important for caregivers of infants less than two months of age, as those infants are not yet eligible to be vaccinated for whooping cough.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that spreads through coughs and sneezes or by sharing food and drink. Symptoms initially resemble a mild cold, progressing to severe bouts of coughing that can last for weeks. Whooping cough most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in children less than one year of age.
For more information on whooping cough or vaccinations, talk to a doctor or public health nurse, call Health Links-Info Santé at (204) 788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257, or visit the Manitoba Health website (PDF).
— Staff
