Whooping cough outbreaks in Canada: What health officials say [Video]

Whooping cough is being reported in higher-than-usual numbers in parts of Canada this year, health officials tell CTVNews.ca.

Cases of whooping cough – also known as pertussis or the 100-day cough – are increasing in several provinces and territories, a spokesperson for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada said in an email Friday.

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Health Canada describes the illness as a contagious lung and airway infection. It’s caused by the bordetella pertussis bacteria, which is spread through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Joshua Coke said some increased activity was not unexpected post-pandemic, as case numbers reached record lows between 2020 and 2022. But, he said, cases in five provinces have now surpassed the pre-pandemic peak.

The provinces seeing more cases this year than they have in the …