July 24, 2024:
Message from NL Health Services:
Please be advised that there has been a confirmed case of Pertussis (Whooping cough) identified in a participant at the following community events:
***Friday, July 19th at 8:00pm: Concert at the Courthouse; (See *** below for this event)
July 20th: Pirate Days in the Park;
July 21st: Kite Festival.
If you attended any of these activities on these dates, you may be considered a contact.
Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. Symptoms usually develop within 5 to 10 days after coming into contact with the bacteria, but sometimes do not develop for as long as 3 weeks. Pertussis typically begins with cold-like symptoms and a cough that worsens over 1-2 weeks. Coughing may occur in fits followed by a “whooping” noise, vomiting, cyanosis (turning blue) or the inability to catch one’s breath. Coughing may be worse at night.
If you are experiencing symptoms of pertussis, please be assessed by a health care provider as soon as possible. Individuals diagnosed as having Pertussis should not return to school or work and should avoid public gatherings, infants, and pregnant women for 5 days after the start of appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Antibiotics can prevent the spread of pertussis and are recommended for contacts who are at high risk of becoming very sick with whooping cough.
*** If you are a high risk contact: These include babies less than one year of age and pregnant women in their third trimester, please contact your health care provider or 811 to discuss next steps.
The vaccines that protect against whooping cough are part of Newfoundland and Labrador’s recommended routine childhood immunization schedule and school immunization schedule, with recommended doses at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4-6 years old, and in Grade 9.
Additionally, a booster dose of vaccine (Tdap) is also recommended for adults, especially pregnant women with each pregnancy. If you are unsure if you are up to date with pertussis vaccine or need to arrange pertussis immunization contact your local public health nursing office.
Please reach out to your Primary Health Care Provider to arrange for testing and treatment if necessary.