Diseases | Whooping cough continues to spread: Now there are also infections in the Oulu region

Whooping cough has now also spread to the Oulu region, reports Pohde, the welfare district of North Ostrobothnia, on Thursday.

There has been a clear increase in the number of pertussis cases in the Helsinki region, it was reported at the beginning of May. Similarly, whooping cough has recently been reported in Finland proper.

Over the past few days, cases of whooping cough have been found in middle school-aged children in Oulu and Kempelee, Pohde says in his press release.

The infections have been related to foreign travel and team sports. In addition, the disease has also caught on in the circle of family and friends.

Also in the Turku region, some of the pertussis infections have been linked to sports teams. In the Helsinki region, the disease has spread at least in schools.

Today In 2018, more cases of whooping cough have been found in other European countries as well, for example in the Czech Republic, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Head of diagnostics at Hus Lasse Lehtonen previously estimated that the reason for the spread of the disease could be found in deficiencies in booster vaccines. Chief physician of the city of Helsinki Sanna Isosomppi said earlier that schoolchildren from Helsinki who were sick with whooping cough vaccination protection has waned a littleeven if they have been properly vaccinated according to the national vaccination program.

Whooping cough is contagious despite the vaccine, but the vaccine protects against serious disease.

Health and welfare institution (THL) by whooping cough is an upper respiratory tract infection caused by bacteria. The disease is most dangerous for children under six months of age, but it occurs in people of all ages. Whooping cough is spread by droplet infection.

Whooping cough can initially resemble the common cold. The further the disease progresses, the coughing becomes spasmodic and tight.

Ponder reminds that there are also plenty of other causes of respiratory infections on the move. Therefore, there is no need to suspect the common cold as whooping cough, unless exposure is known, states the wellness area.

However, if the exposure is known and symptoms suitable for whooping cough appear, you should contact the social and health center. According to Pohti, the infectious disease units of the welfare area are currently contacting the sick and exposed.