Cases of whooping cough are on the rise at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
So far this year, hospital officials say they have seen 90 children with whooping cough compared to just six for all of 2023.
Officials say whooping cough usually begins with cold-like symptoms which can evolve over weeks to include coughing spells that often end with a “whoop” sound when an infected person tries to catch their breath. Â
CHEO medical experts are urging parents and caregivers to keep up to date with routine vaccinations, which they say are proven to protect against further spread.
If you suspect your child has whooping cough, officials recommend that you wear masks, wash your hands, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze to prevent further spread.
