Vitalit warns of possible whooping cough exposures in Grand Falls, Edmundston

Vitalit Health Network is warning about a number of possible exposures to confirmed cases of whooping cough at the emergency departments in Grand Falls and Edmundston in recent weeks.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious disease of the lungs and throat and can be life threatening in babies and young children, according to Public Health's website.

The possible exposures occurred at theGrand Falls General Hospital's ER onJune 10, between 7:25 p.m. and 9 p.m., and overnight June 19, between 11:56 p.m. and 1:15 a.m.

Possible exposures also occurred at theEdmundston Regional Hospital's ER overnight June 15, between7:40 p.m. and 12:10 a.m., and onJune 18, between 12:40 p.m and 8:40 p.m., according to a news release issued Monday afternoon.

Patients and health-care workers who visited these ERs at the specified dates and times are advised to monitor for symptoms for up to 21 days after their visit, the notice says.

There are currently two confirmed cases of whooping cough in the Edmundston region, Zone 4, aVitalitspokesperson told CBC News.

Department of Health officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment about how many confirmed cases there are in the province. Five cases were reported in New Brunswick last year.

Whooping cough starts like a coldwith sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a cough that gets worse over the next week or two, leading to coughing spells that often end with a "whooping" sound.

The disease is easily transmitted, mainly through droplets from the nose, mouth and throat of an infected person. If left untreated, a person with whooping cough can spread it to othersfor up to three weeks after the onset of cough.

Memo to parents June 18 encouraged vaccinations

The warning comes about a week after Dr. Arifur Rahman, the province's acting deputy chief medical officer of health, sent a memo to parents through school districts.

The memo, dated June 18, advisedthat Public Health was "monitoring recent increases in several communicable diseases, like measles and pertussis (whooping cough), in Canada and internationally."

He also advised parents to keep vaccinations up to date "asthe best way" to protect themselves and their children.

He encouraged parents to check the vaccine status of their entire family before attending any summer camps or travelling.

Anyone who needs an additional publicly fundeddose can visit their primary care provider, while Public Health offices provide free doses forinfants, children,adolescents, and sometimesadults.