“Pertussis Outbreak in Alberta, Canada: Latest Updates and Vaccination Information”

2023-04-29 19:37:00

Au Canadain Albertathe pertussis outbreak declared in January 2023 is gaining momentum in Alberta Health Services (AHS) South Zone, and cases have now been identified in Lethbridge et Medicine Hat. AHS says there are now 146 confirmed cases compared to 126 confirmed as of April 20, 2023. Five children have required hospitalization since the outbreak was declared.

The cases have been identified in schools and other community places such as churches and sites where children gather for lessons. It is not possible to draw links between most recent cases, indicating that there are likely other infections circulating in communities that are not being reported.
Most cases involve children between the ages of 1 and 9, but some adults have also been affected.

Reminders on the whooping cough

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by bacteria, Bordetella pertussis. It remains an endemic disease in all countries, hence the importance of high vaccination coverage to protect infants from severe forms of this disease.

In France, the vaccines available are all acellular vaccines and contain aluminum salts used as an adjuvant to improve the immune response. They differ according to their antigenic composition, the antigens listed below corresponding to proteins which are also virulence factors of the bacterium:

• Two pertussis antigens (pertussis toxoid and filamentous hemagglutinin): acellular Tetravac, Pentavac and Hexion;
• Three pertussis antigens (pertussis toxoid, filamentous hemagglutinin and pertactin): Boostrixtetra, Infanrix hexa, Infanrixquinta and Infanrixtetra;
• Four pertussis antigens (pertussis toxoid, filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin and fimbriae): Repevax;
• Five whooping cough antigens (pertussis toxoid, filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin, fimbriae type 2 and 3): Vaxelis.

Source : ProMED.

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