After two people on board were confirmed as cases after arriving in New Zealand, officials cautioned passengers on a flight from Perth to Auckland to keep an eye out for whooping cough symptoms. Here’s all you need to know about this disease.
Passengers On Perth To Auckland To Monitor Symptoms For Whooping Cough
The National Public Health Service of Te Whatu Ora advised passengers on the connecting aircraft OD195 to keep an eye out for any symptoms. Runny nose, fever, and cough are frequently seen in the early stages of whooping cough. Within two to three weeks of exposure, people may begin to experience symptoms at any time.
If passengers on the flight experience symptoms, they are advised to call their doctor or health provider for testing and treatment. They are also advised to not come in contact with pregnant women and young children until they have spoken to a doctor. Further, they need to seek emergency medical attention if they are having trouble breathing.
According to Dr Michael Hale, medical officer of health, whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can be particularly harmful for infants, young children, and pregnant women. He further stated that 69 occurrences of whooping cough have been reported in New Zealand so far this year, and three newborn deaths have occurred.
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People Are At A Higher Risk Of Catching Illness
While the danger for the majority of passengers was modest, individuals who sat in rows 8 to 12 were at higher risk of catching the illness and are therefore deemed contacts.
They want to make sure that individuals who potentially get severely ill from whooping cough are aware of the risk and are aware of the symptoms to watch out for, even if the threat for the majority of passengers on the aircraft was low.
In babies and young children, whooping cough can be “unpredictable” and cause them to get “extremely sick” very quickly. The cough steadily worsens and frequently turns into protracted coughing fits that can last anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks and is known as the “hundred-day cough.”
Coughing fits in infants and young children frequently conclude with a “whoop” sound at the intake of breath, vomiting, or gagging. The best method of preventing whooping cough, particularly during pregnancy and infancy is vaccination.
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Consult your GP or nurse if you’re unsure whether you or your child have all the immunisations, he advised.
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