The Lethbridge office of Alberta Health Services (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Alberta Health Services

Whooping cough outbreak declared in west part of AHS South Zone, including Lethbridge

Oct 16, 2019 | 10:28 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Alberta Health Services has officially declared an outbreak of whooping cough in the western part of the AHS South Zone.

This includes the communities of Lethbridge, Raymond and Lethbridge County and comes after 11 new cases of whooping cough, known medically as pertussis, were confirmed over a week ago.

Last week, Dr. Vivien Suttorp, the AHS South Zone’s lead Medical Health Officer said she was concerned but had decided to not yet declare an outbreak. That has since changed.

READ MORE: Doctor worried about whooping cough cases, but no community outbreak declared

Suttorp said new cases of pertussis have been confirmed, bringing the total to 15 new cases in the last two weeks. Overall, there have been 42 confirmed cases so far this year in the region.

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In 2018, there were 58 cases in total across the South Zone.

This story will be updated with comments from Dr. Vivien Suttorp.