Once again a ground-breaking record in whooping cough cases has been noticed. After reviewing the figures of the last and current year, it has been found that in comparison, January 2012 is recorded with a far higher number of pertussis patients. Till now, 500 patients have been already noted down, whereas during the same time last year, the count was just 74.

According to ESR data out this week, among these 500 notifications, 198 are confirmed cases, 224 are under the probability of suffering from whooping cough, five are suspected and rest 80 are still under investigation.

According to ESR, in last two weeks, 22 people have been hospitalized due to this reason, though no deaths have been reported yet. It is in Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough where highest number of notifications have been seen. During the last quarter of the last year, the number of whooping cough patients was seen declining but soon reaching the end of year, it again started rising.

Whooping cough is a severe contagious bacterial infection, which is spread by coughing and sneezing. Babies and young children easily become the victim of this disease. Pertussis can cause serious complications like pneumonia and brain inflammation. Earlier signs of this disease are severe coughing attacks, vomiting and fever. When coughing ends with a “whooping” sound and makes one breath harder, it shows the sign of Pertussis.

Doctors have claimed that in every three to five years, there comes an outbreak of this disease. The only way to protect your child from this is to ensure timely vaccinations, healthy eating habits and clean environment. For this, the Ministry of Health has also requested parents to make younger children surely get the free childhood vaccinations on time. These are due at the ages of six weeks, three months, five months, and then at fourth and eleventh year.