Health teams in the Great Southern are working hard to manage the spread of whooping cough in the region, responding to a worrying uptick in cases.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial disease, and can be life-threatening for babies and young children with more fragile immune systems.

Symptoms can present similar to a cold, with a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, fever and mild cough among the initial symptoms that worsen into severe coughing that can produce a “whooping” sound when inhaling.

Also called pertussis, the illness spreads easily through droplets from coughing or sneezing, and can lead to uncontrollable coughing and difficulty breathing.

Anyone with symptoms should see their GP for assessment and treatment as soon as possible to help stop the spread.

WA Country Health Service executive director for the Great Southern Evelyn Quinn said stopping the spread was a whole-of-community effort.

“It’s very important that everyone makes sure they, and their children, are up to date with their vaccinations. Immunity to whooping cough wanes between five to 10 years, so adults also need to have regular boosters,” she said.

“The majority of infections are concentrated in Albany, but all other areas in the Great Southern have reported cases as well.

“The more people that are immunised, the better our chances are of stopping the spread, which will keep everyone, especially those most at risk, safe from severe illness.”

The whooping cough vaccine is free for babies and children, administered at two months, four months, six months, 18 months and four years of age, young adolescents, and pregnant women.

WACHS consultant for public health medicine Dr Alex Shivarev said everyone could be at risk of catching whooping cough, though young children were most at risk.

“The best way to protect yourself and others is to make sure you are up to date with pertussis-containing vaccines,” he said.

“Newborns are at greatest risk of severe illness from whooping cough.

“For expectant parents, by getting vaccinated, preferably between 20 to 32 weeks gestation, protection will be passed on to the bub when they are born.”

Dr Shivarev also encouraged adults who had not been vaccinated in the past 10 years to consider getting a booster dose, especially if they may come into contact with newborn babies.

“If you’re unsure if you’ve had a whooping cough vaccine recently, check your Australian immunisation register record, or speak with your healthcare provider to see if you are due a dose,” he said.

The whooping cough vaccine is available through community health services, local GPs, participating pharmacies and the Great Southern Aboriginal Health Service.