Vaccinate alert over pertussis outbreak

PARENTS are being urged to vaccinate their children after an outbreak of whooping cough in Cairns.

Gordonvale State School this week warned parents and carers that it had been advised by Queensland Health of a suspected case of whooping cough, known as pertussis.

Cairns tropical public health services assistance director Dr Roscoe Taylor was not aware of any cases at the school but confirmed three cases of pertussis in the health district since October 30.

“None of these cases are at Gordonvale State School, based on our present knowledge,” he said. “It is not unusual to have a few cases of whooping cough in the community at any given time.”

He said when cases were confirmed at daycare centres or schools the public health unit wrote to parents via the school principal encouraging parents to ensure that their children were vaccinated.

“Parents are advised to take their child to the doctor if they develop a persistent or troublesome cough.”

Whooping cough is highly contagious and can affect people of any age.

It can be life-threatening, and complications of the bacterial disease in babies include pneumonia, fits and brain damage from prolonged lack of oxygen.