HORSHAM Rural City has experienced a dramatic drop in whooping cough cases this year.
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Department of Health and Human Services figures show five reported cases of the disease in the municipality this year until August 18.
There were 32 reported cases in Horsham Rural City at the same time last year.
The area recorded 35 cases in 2014, 14 in 2013 and 11 in 2012.
All cases reported in Horsham Rural City this year have been in people aged 45 and older.
There were 22 reported cases in people aged 0 to 44 last year, including seven cases in children from five to nine.
Horsham Rural City Council senior environmental health officer Luke Mitton said the newest figures were positive.
He said there could be a number of reasons why the figured had dropped so dramatically.
“It could be that people are being more conscientious – they might be making sure they are vaccinated,” he said.
“We’ve run a number of initiatives over the years and we might be seeing the results now.
“There could just be more general awareness in the community.”
Mr Mitton said vaccination rates in the shire were also quite high.
Northern Grampians cases had risen from 10 cases this time last year to 18.
However, there is still scope for the shire to finish the year better than last.
The shire reported a total of 21 recorded cases last year.
Hindmarsh had six reported cases of whooping cough this time last year.
There have been seven so far this year. The shire had no reports in 2012, five in 2013 and seven last year.
Ararat Rural City figures have dropped, from five cases this time last year to two.
The shire had a total of six reported cases in 2014, three in 2013 and six in 2012.
Yarriambiack Shire is one of two Wimmera municipalities with no recorded cases of whooping cough this year.
Last year there was two cases recorded in the shire, three cases reported in 2013 and one in 2012.
West Wimmera also has no reported cases of the disease this year.
The shire’s record has been consistent for the past four years, with no cases in 2014, one case in 2013 and four cases in 2012.
Buloke is on track to improve its figures, with only three reports of the disease this year. There were six reported cases of the disease at the end on last year.
Mr Mitton encouraged people to get a whooping cough booster every 10 years.