SHA declares whooping cough outbreak in Preeceville region

An outbreak of pertussis — more commonly known as whooping cough — has been declared in the Preeceville area.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority issued the advisory Friday for the region. Preeceville is about 275 kilometres northeast of Regina and 300 kilometres east of Saskatoon.

According to a release from the SHA, pertussis is a highly contagious infection of the lungs and throat. Anyone can contract the disease, but it’s most severe in children less than a year old, where it can be fatal.

The authority said young children who haven’t been immunized against the disease typically get sicker than older children and adults.

The release said symptoms of early-stage pertussis are common-cold-like symptoms including sneezing, runny nose, mild fever and a mild cough.

“As the illness develops, the cough gets worse leading to severe coughing spells that often end with a ‘whooping’ sound before the next breath, especially in young children,” the release said. “Teenagers and adults may not make the whooping sound. The cough can last one to two months and occurs more often at night.”

Pertussis also produces mucus that is expelled through coughing. That mucus makes it difficult to breathe, the SHA said, and can prevent oxygen from getting to the brain.

Anyone who has the symptoms is urged to see their family doctor or a nurse practitioner as soon as possible.

“Contracting pertussis does not produce life-long protection so sick individuals may contract the disease again,” the release added.

According to the health authority, a person with pertussis who doesn’t get treatment can spread the germ to others for up to three weeks after the cough starts. The bacteria that causes the disease is spread by infected people when they cough, sneeze or have close contact with others.

Saskatchewan had three pertussis-related deaths between 2010 and 2015, the SHA noted.