Exposure aleret issued after pertussis case at Prince Albert hospital

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is alerting the public about whooping cough in Prince Albert.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is alerting the public about exposure to pertussis, also known as whooping cough, at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.

According to SHA, a person who had the illness was recently at the emergency department. Anyone who was at the emergency department on April 19, between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m., should monitor themselves for symptoms for up to 20 days.

“Pertussis is a bacterial infection of the respiratory (breathing) system. Anyone can get pertussis, but the disease is most severe in children less than one year when it can be fatal,” SHA said in a statement Thursday.

SHA says this disease can also be severe for pregnant women in their last trimester, as the infection can be passed to newborns and cause serious complications and death.

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According to SHA, the infection spreads easily when an infected person coughs, sneezes or has close contact with others.

Early symptoms include sneezing, a runny nose, fever and coughing. Over time, the cough can worsen and turn into severe coughing spells that make a whooping sound before breathing in and may cause vomiting. The cough can last up to two months and make breathing difficult, SHA said.

“Young infants may not have these exact symptoms, and a parent or caregiver may not realize how sick their baby really is. Adolescents and adults may experience milder symptoms. Once a person has had pertussis, they do not develop life-long protection and may get the disease again,” SHA said.

SHA says Pertussis can be prevented through routine vaccination, which is given during childhood and again in Grade 8.

The vaccine is also recommended for caregivers of young infants and for all pregnant women at or after 27 weeks of pregnancy.