Families warned to be wary of spreading whooping cough this Christmas

Vaccination is the best prevention against whooping cough with pregnant mums able to be vaccinated at 16 weeks.

Whanganui Regional Health Network (WRHN) is warning families the holiday period will likely increase the spread whooping cough cases.

There have been 25 cases in Whanganui in the year to November and 539 in the central region.

In November, Whanganui was declared a whooping cough hotspot after sitting at the third-highest infection rate of the health districts, with a rate of infection at 11.4 cases per 100,000 people.

WHRN chief executive Judith Macdonald said travellers returning from overseas and large family gatherings over Christmas would create a heightened risk.

“We are now back to almost pre-Covid rates of travelling globally — that’s why we’re at risk.”

A WHRN spokeswoman said whooping cough could cause serious illness, especially in children too young for their first immunisation. It could also lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia or brain damage.

“About 50% of pēpi who catch whooping cough before the age of 12 months need hospitalisation and 1 or 2 in 100 of those hospitalised die from the infection.

“Older tamariki usually get a less severe disease, but the cough and vomiting can be very distressing.”

One of the issues with stopping the spread of whooping cough is that people can carry the whooping cough bug without symptoms and can pass it on easily.

Prevention was the best treatment, the WHRN spokeswoman said.

“Hapū māmā getting immunised when they are pregnant will protect pēpi until they can have their first immunisations at six weeks old.

“The antenatal vaccination for pertussis is safe and free — this is most effective when given from 16 weeks of pregnancy.”

Early signs of whooping cough

• A blocked or runny nose
• Sneezing
• A mild fever
• Ongoing spasms of coughing.

Symptoms (after about one week)

• Uncontrollable coughing fits that last for a few minutes — sometimes people will make a ‘whoop’ sound when gasping for breath between coughs, and while this is a common sign of whooping cough it’s not always heard
• Coughing that leads to vomiting
• A thick mucus that can make you vomit or choke.

How to prevent whooping cough

• Hapū māmā/pregnant women can get a free vaccination from 16 weeks (this provides 90% protection for newborn pēpi/babies until they get their first immunisation at 6 weeks)
• If you are unwell (even just a sniffle) do not visit whānau and friends until you are better.
• Wash hands frequently
• Cover nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze
• When you are sick, stay home, away from people, public places, work and school
• Put a mask on if you have cold symptoms or are out in public places
• In crowded areas, practice keeping your distance to keep yourself and others well
• Whānau close to pēpi can also have whooping cough immunisation to safeguard pēpi who are too young for their first immunisation (please check with your health provider as there may be a cost)

Eva de Jong is a reporter for the Whanganui Chronicle covering health stories and general news. She began as a reporter in 2023.