As of June 23, 2023, Manitoba has 154 confirmed or probable cases of Whooping Cough. !52 of those case have been in Southern Health region since the beginning of January.

Although no deaths from the bacterial disease have been reported the outbreak includes 78 female and 76 male cases and breaks down as follows:

• 30 infants aged one year or younger;
• 80 cases in children aged one to nine;
• 24 cases in children aged 10 to 19; and
• 20 cases in adults.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable illness. It is caused by a bacteria, usually spread through respiratory droplets in the air when coughing or sneezing, and is most contagious during the initial stages of illness.
Whooping cough can affect people of all ages, but infants aged one year or younger are at greatest risk of severe complications