Whooping cough cases have soared in Toronto and across the province this year with Ontario approaching the previous record of 1,044 cases set more than a decade ago.
As of September 16, Toronto Public Health confirmed that there have been 113 confirmed cases in the city so far this year, more than triple the five-year pre-pandemic average of 31 cases over the same period.
Across Ontario, there have been 1,016 cases of the infection, known as pertussis, as of Sept. 9. With months left to go until the end of the year, it is expected that the number of cases in 2024 will likely exceed the record set back in 2012.
Here is what you need to know about whooping cough as cases surge in Ontario.
Is it a cold or whooping cough?
In the initial stages of the bacterial infection, which was once referred to as the 100-day cough, the symptoms are similar to that of the common cold. Those symptoms include sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose.
The first symptoms may take seven to 10 days to appear after being infected, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). A mild fever could also be an early symptom of the infection.
“It leads to serious coughing fits that can last for two to eight weeks. The coughing fits may cause difficulty breathing, choking and vomiting,” PHAC says on its website.
Speaking to CTV News Toronto this summer, Dasantila Golemi-Kotra, a microbiology associate professor at York University, said the distinctive cough is the most notable symptom.
“It is just an excruciating sort of painful, poignant cough. The sound of the cough… is like the person is gasping for air, suffocating,” Golemi-Kotra said.
“That’s sort of the primary symptom that differentiates this type of respiratory disease from other respiratory diseases.”
Who is at risk?
The infection is particularly dangerous for infants, pregnant individuals, and older adults. Symptoms are often less severe in older children and younger adults, PHAC says.
One of the potential complications of whooping cough is pneumonia.
Why are cases worse this year?
According to Public Health Ontario, pertussis in an endemic disease that sees low level activity and “occasional cycling” increases every two to six years.
“Cyclical increases cannot be predicted but reliably occur over time in response to several factors such as population immunity, vaccination coverage, or small changes in the bacteria, among others,” Public Health Ontario said in a written statement emailed to CP24.com.
“The last cyclical increase of pertussis activity in Ontario occurred several years ago, therefore an increase in pertussis at this time is not unexpected, particularly following a sharp decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
What to do if you come down with a case of whooping cough?
If you or anyone in your household has a severe or prolonged cough, officials say it is important to seek care from a medical provider.
“It is important to get the right diagnosis and treatment. Make sure to stay away from young children until treatment is completed,” PHAC says.
How to avoid getting whooping cough
In an email to CP24.com, Toronto Public Health said vaccination is the best protection against infection.
Ontario Public Health says a childhood series includes four doses given between two and 18 months, along with booster doses administered at ages four, 14 and 24. A program has also been developed for pregnant people with vaccine administration offered in ideally between 27 to 32 weeks of gestation.
“Pertussis is a highly contagious and vaccine-preventable infection that can cause severe illness in infants, young children and pregnant individuals,” Toronto Public Health said.
“The best way to prevent pertussis is to make sure you and your children are vaccinated.”