Number of whooping cough cases in 2024 now above pre-pandemic average

In seven months, Ottawa has seen more whooping cough cases than the yearly average pre-pandemic.

There have been 32 people with confirmed or probable whooping cough cases in Ottawa this year so far,Ottawa Public Health (OPH) said on Wednesday. That's a jump from eight cases, as of June 29.

The average number of yearly casespre-pandemic (between 2017 and 2019) in Ottawa was 27, according to the OPH.

It also reported there have been 500 cases across Ontario. Public Health Ontario reported on July 17, 2024 that, as of the end of May, the number of whooping cough cases this year in the province was 102.

Marie-Claude Turcotte of OPH said it's important for the public to keep in mind that whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is vaccine-preventable.

Turcotte and other public health officials are reminding the public to check their own vaccination records, and their children's.

"Summertime is a very good time for parents to look at their child's immunization record," she said, since kids begin school again in September.

OPH's statement reminded parents that students may be at risk of suspension if their vaccination records are not updated, undertheImmunization of Schools Pupils Act.