Northern Health is encouraging residents to get immunized against whooping cough after seeing an increase in cases around Smithers.
Public Health nursing program manager Edna McLellan says it can be a very serious disease for unimmunized infants.
“Pertussis or whooping cough is a highly infectious respiratory illness that is caused by bacteria and it can affect all ages but the most vulnerable group is under one age,” she says.
McLellan says there have been six confirmed cases and a few more are under investigation.
She says the best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated.