Health authorities are urging at-risk Tasmanians to get vaccinated against the highly infectious illness, as the state is in the early stages of the epidemic.
Pregnant women and infants aged under six months are the most vulnerable to pertussis.Tasmania's Department of Health has declared a whooping cough epidemic, with 300 cases recorded this year, up from 12 last year.
"I went to the hospital three times, one of those was via ambulance after I just could not stop coughing," Gary said."I'd also been to the doctor four times and saw two different doctors at my GP clinic."Obviously they didn't check me for whooping cough." Infectious disease experts say pregnant women should get vaccinated urgently as whooping cough numbers reach a nine-year high.
Health professionals recommend vaccine rates in the community to be about 95 per cent for whooping cough, as it's highly infectious.Australia's Department of Health and Aged Care recommends the vaccination for infants, children and adolescents, and a booster for adults, especially those in contact with high-risk groups.
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