Ongoing pertussis outbreak

Public Health Units in Cairns, Townsville, and Mackay have requested we distribute this clinician alert to clinicians in the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) region.

 Key points are as followed 

• There is an ongoing community-wide outbreak of pertussis in the Cairns and Hinterland region. Pertussis infection can spread even among vaccinated people, though they will often present with milder symptoms.
  
  
• Please consider pertussis (whooping cough) in all patients with cough, particularly paroxysmal or prolonged cough or if associated with post-tussive vomiting, regardless of age or vaccination status.
  
  
• Infants and unvaccinated children are particularly vulnerable to pertussis. Infants under 6 months are at greatest risk of severe disease and death.
  to read the full clinicians report click here