2016 National Immunization poster contest Sask winner by Elizabeth Fider.
The Prince Albert Parkland Health Region has issued an advisory about an outbreak of whooping cough, which it notes is a serious and highly contagious disease.
A coordinated response involving the health region, Health Canada and surrounding First Nations is underway. The primary focus right now is to make sure everyone, in particular children, are up to date with their vaccines.
People can get whopping cough many times in their life because they do not develop permanent immunity. The disease may even occur in those who have been vaccinated but symptoms are milder.
The greatest threat is to young children where the lung and throat infection tends to be the most severe.
Health Canada is working with affected First Nations communities to provide enhanced immunization serves for women who are more than six months pregnant.
The release from the region does not indicate how many cases of the disease have been reported, or what additional measures will be taken to deal with it.