dults in Burnaby who have regular Acontact with babies and young children should get the free whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine.
This is the message from the Fraser Health Authority after the death of a month-old baby in the Lethbridge area of southern Alberta last month due to complications related to this highly contagious disease.
Outbreaks of whooping cough have been reported across Canada and the U.S. this year. The hardest hit areas in Canada are the Fraser Valley in B.C., southern Alberta, and parts of southwestern Ontario and New Brunswick.
In the Fraser Health region, about 290 people - including nine children under the age of one - have been infected with whooping cough since last fall. There have been no fatalities reported.
In Burnaby the number of cases reached 21 as of July 25.
The peak of the outbreak came in January and February, with a second spike in May this year.
"We haven't changed our view of the seriousness of this disease, even though we're having fewer cases," said Paul Van Buynder, chief medical health officer with the Fraser Health Authority.
"We know that this is a nasty disease for young children. We still want anybody that hasn't got around to being vaccinated that has contact with young children to go and do it."
Vaccines are still available at no cost for pregnant women and adults in the Fraser Health region who have contact with young children and babies, which includes child-care workers, day care centre staff, nannies and grandparents.
The vaccine is available at pharmacies and from general practitioners.
WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCT SEIZED
Health Canada is advising Burnaby residents that four potentially dangerous weight loss products have been seized from a local store called U-Box.
The four products are called Brazil Perfect Reducing Fat Coffee, Goya Bittermelon, S-organic Cocao+L-carnitine and Super Fat Burning Bomb.
Health Canada identified hidden ingredients (sibutramine and phenolphthalein) in these products, which could pose serious health risks, such as heart attack or stroke.
Caffeine was also found in some of the products but not listed on the product label.
Caffeine may pose health risks to people sensitive to its effects.
Have an item for our Medical File roundup? Send items to editorial@burnaby now.com, attention to reporter Marelle Reid, or fax items to 604-444-3460.
