How to fight off whooping cough

Experts are urging parents to keep their kids up to date on vaccinations as a wave of whooping cough sweeps the nation, right before the start of the school year.

- KEVIN JIANG

Infections of the vaccine-preventable illness have reached levels several times greater than pre-pandemic numbers across Canada in recent weeks — and young children are especially vulnerable.

“It’s important to remember that anyone at any age can get this infection,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist with Toronto General Hospital. “But it is more dangerous in little kids who are either not yet vaccinated or who don’t have their vaccination complete.”

Toronto Public Health is reporting 99 cases of whooping cough so far this year — nearly three times the pre-pandemic five-year average of 38.

Children ages 10 to 14 made up the bulk of the city’s cases, said Dr. Allison Chris, an associate medical officer of health at the agency.