Parents in the Katherine region are being urged to ensure that both they and their children are vaccinated against pertussis (whooping cough).
Infants are the most vulnerable to the complications of pertussis and already this year in the NT there have been 13 children under 12 months of age, the majority of whom have been hospitalised.
Over the last few weeks there has been an increasing number of adults and children affected by pertussis in the Katherine area.
Director of Disease Control, Dr Vicki Krause said whooping cough is a highly infectious disease that causes attacks of coughing and can lead to pneumonia and sometimes death in young babies.
"About 1 in 200 children under 6 months of age who develop whooping cough die from pneumonia or brain damage.
"Whooping cough normally begins like a 'cold' with an irritating cough and then develops into a severe, persistent cough.
"The disease can be prevented or reduced in severity, in young children and babies by vaccination.
"Vaccinations should be administered to children at 2, 4 and 6 months with a booster at 4 years," said Dr Krause.
Babies under 6 months of age, even if they have received the 2 and 4 month old vaccinations, are not fully protected so are dependent on those around them being immunised.
Dr Vicki Krause adds that immunity following vaccination is not lifelong and adolescents, parents and those working with children need a booster vaccine to prevent infection and transmission to babies who are at greatest risk.
"A free combination vaccine for whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus is available and is being offered to Year 8 students in a school-based vaccination program in the NT.
"To protect very young babies it is also recommended that parents of infants, those anticipating having children and adults working with young children, should have a booster dose of the whooping cough vaccine, available by prescription from your general practitioner," said Dr Krause.
For further information on whooping cough and immunisation contact your GP, Katherine health clinic or the Katherine Centre for Disease Control (89 739 049).
Media Contact: Cameron Jackson, 0401 116 144
Date released: 17 July 2008
