Health & Safety

The Victorian Health Department has issued a health alert entitled “Increasing pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Victoria”. The key messages from the alert are: 

• Cases of pertussis (whooping cough) are increasing in Victoria, mostly affecting children aged 10-12 years.

 • Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness known for causing a cough, and can lead to life threatening infections in babies. 

• Symptoms of pertussis may be very similar to other respiratory infections, especially in the early stages, meaning diagnosis by a doctor as soon as possible is important. 

Prompt diagnosis, isolation and treatment can help reduce transmission and protect vulnerable infants. 

Pertussis usually begins with cold-like symptoms, such as a dry cough, tiredness, runny nose, and lowgrade fever. A more definitive cough follows, lasting for 10 weeks or more. The cough comes in long spells and may be followed by a high-pitched ‘whooping’ sound on inhalation. 

Pertussis is mostly spread to other people by droplets from coughing or sneezing. People with pertussis are considered infectious from the onset of cold-like symptoms until 21 days after the onset of cough, or until they have received 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment.

Legislated Exclusion Periods 

For diagnosed cases: 

•  The treating doctor can provide specific advice in relation to exclusion periods from school, and can verify when exclusion periods can be ended.

 •  Children diagnosed with pertussis to be exclude from primary schools and children’s services for a minimum period of 21 days after the onset of cough, or until they have completed 5 days of a course of antibiotic treatment.

 •  The treating doctor will complete the required notifications to the Department of Health 

• Schools should notify MACS via the report form on CEVN or at ohs@macs.vic.edu.au 

For contacts of diagnosed cases:

 •  The exclusion requirement only applies to contacts who meet all three of these criteria:

• aged less than 7 years;
• in the same room as the child with the diagnosed case; and 
• have not received three effective doses of pertussis vaccine 

•  Children meeting these criteria should be excluded for 14 days after the last exposure to the infectious case, or until they have taken 5 days of a course of effective antibiotic treatment.