Ovens Murray Public Health Unit (OM PHU) is aware of an increase in pertussis cases in our catchment area and across Victoria.
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a serious, contagious, respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The disease begins like a cold and then the characteristic cough (‘whooping’ sound) develops. Although pertussis causes mild disease in many people, it can cause serious disease for infants under 6 months of age. This cough may last up to 3 months, even after antibiotic treatment is completed and the person is no longer infectious. Testing to confirm a pertussis infection can be conducted by a GP.
Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (Schedule 7):
- Children and adults diagnosed with pertussis (whooping cough) must be excluded from primary school and children’s services centres for 21 days after the onset of cough or until they have completed five days of a course of effective antibiotic treatment.
- Children and adults do not need to be excluded if they have been coughing for 21 days or more as they are no longer infectious.
- Contacts in primary schools and children’s services centres aged less than seven years in the same room as the case who have not received three effective doses of pertussis vaccine should be excluded for 14 days after the last exposure to the infectious case, or until they have taken five days of a course of effective antibiotic treatment.
Parents of children in classes with 3 confirmed cases should be informed of the exposure and provided with health information regarding transmission, signs and symptoms, prevention and treatment of pertussis. Staff should also be encouraged to check and update their immunisation status. Further information can be found at Better Health Channel – Pertussis. The infectious period of pertussis can last up to 3 weeks and begins from the onset of symptoms which may include a runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and a mild occasional cough. Parents and staff should be aware of developing signs or symptoms of pertussis particularly in the coming weeks.
Pertussis vaccinations are available at GP Clinics and Pharmacies. A primary course in provided to infants as per the National Immunisation Program (NIP), at 6 weeks, 4 months, and 6 months of age.
Booster doses are scheduled to be administered at:
- 18 months
- 4 years
- 12 to 13 years of age/Year 7 high school program
- Pregnant people at 20–32 weeks gestation (every pregnancy, regardless of how closely spaced).
In addition, pertussis vaccination is recommended (but not funded) for:
- Parents/guardians of a baby under 6 months of age (if they have not received a dose in the last 10 years)
- Adults aged 65 years and older who have not received a pertussis-containing vaccine in the last 10 years
- Any adult who wishes to be protected against pertussis infection who has not received a dose in the last 10 years (including healthcare workers, travellers, and early childhood educators and carers).
https://mvec.mcri.edu.au/references/pertussis-whooping-cough/
If you require further information, please see links below:
- Information about the condition pertussis (‘whopping cough’) at the Better Health Channel website or see the Victorian Department of Health fact sheet at www.health.vic.gov.au/publications/pertussis-the-facts
- Information on pertussis-containing vaccines can be found on the departments’ immunisation web page at www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/immunisation-schedule-victoria-and-vaccine-eligibility-criteria
- Additional information about school exclusions at www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion-table
- Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019
If you become aware of any child or staff member who becomes unwell with pertussis, could you please contact the Health Protection Team, OM PHU on 0456 841 229.
Share This