​CONFIRMED CASE OF WHOOPING COUGH AT GIBSON-NEILL MEMORIAL

Dear Parents and Guardians,

There is a confirmed case of whooping cough (pertussis) at your child’s school. You can find information about this disease in the Fact Sheet available at:  http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/en/CDC/FactSheets/Pertussisfactsheet.pdf

Whooping cough spreads between people by droplets from coughs and sneezes. Whooping cough can cause severe disease in young children.   If you or your child develops symptoms like those described in the fact sheet, please avoid contact with pregnant women and children under 1 year of age, until you see your family doctor or an after-hours clinic. Tell your primary care provider that you or your child may have had contact with a confirmed case of whooping cough. 

If your doctor thinks that you or your child has pertussis, they can test for the disease. A positive test result will allow Public Health to act to protect others from the disease.  After a positive test result, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics and ask you to stay home until you have finished treatment. 

You can help stop the spread of diseases by washing your hands frequently, and staying home from school or work when you are sick. Pertussis can be prevented with a vaccine.  Please check to see if you and your child have all of the recommended immunizations. In New Brunswick, children should have doses of pertussis vaccine at 2, 4, 6, 18 months, and 4 years of age. Adults and adolescents in Grade 7 should receive a booster dose.

If you or your child are missing any of these doses, please contact your primary care provider or Public Health to make an appointment for immunization. There is no cost to receive the recommended doses of the pertussis vaccine.

If you have any questions, please contact Public Health at 453-5200.

Sincerely,

Na-Koshie Lamptey MD MPH CCFP FRCP

Regional Medical Officer of Health​