5 kids hospitalized as whooping cough cases increase in southern Alberta outbreak

Alberta Health Services says it’s seeing a jump in whooping cough cases in the province’s south.

The provincial health authority says there are 146 cases of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, in the area.

An outbreak was declared Jan. 26, but AHS says the number of cases has increased by 120 over the last week.

1:59 Alberta whooping cough outbreak grows, report shows vaccination confidence declined during pandemic

• Alberta whooping cough outbreak grows, report shows vaccination confidence declined during pandemic
• Pertussis outbreak spreads across Alberta

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It says most of the cases have been found in Medicine Hat and Lethbridge, and are most common among children between the ages of one and nine.

AHS says since the outbreak was declared, five children have been hospitalized, but there have been no deaths reported.

It says early symptoms of whooping cough are similar to that of a cold with intense bouts of coughing starting about a week after initial symptoms.