The number of cases of whooping cough continues to climb in the Southern Health Sante Sud health region.

"We've seen an increase in the cases of whooping cough go from an average of about 4 to 5 cases a year, which would be kind of normal, to about 40 cases this year," said Dr. Denis Fortier, vice president of medical services. "So quite a significant increase."

Fortier says the majority of cases are in the southern part of the region, from the Red River Valley west along the American border. Most of the cases have been found in children five years of age or younger, with some cases reported in children 5-14. There have also been a handful of cases in teens and adults.

Due to the fact that whooping cough is a bacteria and not a virus, Fortier says it can be treated with an antibiotic. He says it's spread through contact with other people who have the bacteria. Symptoms include a runny nose, mild fever, and a severe cough that can result in gagging or vomiting.

Fortier says prevention is the best medicine, including hand washing and coughing into your sleeve or elbow. Vaccinations are also key to preventing the spread of the bacteria.

"In fact in this particular outbreak it appears to be fairly clear that most of the people who have been affected are not immunized against whooping cough," explains Fortier. "Whooping cough is a preventable, infectious disease. It used to harm many people, especially young children in the early parts of the 20th century. We have seen very little of it when vaccinations started. We're seeing a resurgence now that people have forgotten how bad that whooping cough can be. I would just strongly encourage people to speak to their public health nurse, speak to their physicians and get vaccinated."

He reminds people to get a booster shot to help strengthen their immune system.