Whooping cough cases in Ontario on pace for annual record

Ontario’s public health agency says the province is on track to reach a record number of whooping cough cases this year, the highest number in more than a decade.

Public Health Ontario says there were 1,044 cases reported in 2012, and as of Sept. 9 of this year, there have been 1,016 cases reported.

That’s compared to 470 cases last reported in June and the five-year average to date of 98.

Infectious disease physician Dr. Isaac Bogoch says whooping cough is most risky for unvaccinated infants, children and older people, and immunization is a key measure to contain outbreaks.