Whooping cough is making a comeback in Quebec.
The highly contagious disease -- which can be deadly to small children -- has been reported across the province in growing numbers since July.
In total 505 people have contracted the disease, which is formally known as pertussis.
The highest number of cases have been in the Laurentians and the Mauricie region, areas that have seen outbreaks of several other easily preventable diseases in recent years.
Quebec offers a free vaccine against the disease and the overwhelming majority of citizens are vaccinated as children. However a person's immunity can wear off as a person ages, and adults and teenagers who are exposed can catch it, even if they were vaccinated as children.
When children get pertussis they cough frequently and make a high-pitched 'whoop' as they breath in.
Adults generally cough constantly for three to six months, with sufferers finding it difficult to go more than 30 seconds without coughing several times.
Outbreaks in other provinces are much smaller, with Manitoba and New Brunswick reporting more than 50 cases each, while about 500 people are sick in Ontario.
