Whooping cough identified in Igloolik: Health department
Residents advised to stay indoors if they can, and anyone showing symptoms should wear a mask
Nunavut’s Department of Health is advising residents of Igloolik that whooping cough has been identified in the community and is asking residents to take precautions to ensure their health and well-being. (File photo)
Igloolik residents are being warned that whooping cough has been identified in their community.
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a throat and lung disease that is very easily transmitted from person to person, the Department of Health said in an advisory issued Friday.
The department urged Igloolik residents to stay home if possible and avoid public gatherings for now.
Parents of babies and young children should be especially cautious, it said. Department staff are working to trace anyone who might have had contact with an infected person, in order to stem the spread.
In the advisory, it asked anyone experiencing respiratory symptoms to wear a mask while in public. People experiencing a cough lasting more than three weeks should contact their local health centre.
Symptoms of whooping cough include:
- a cough that lasts longer than a week and is followed by an unusual sound, like a “whoop”;
- trouble breathing;
- vomiting after coughing.
- coughing that is worse at night;
- a high fever (39°C and above) that lasts more than three days.
A whooping cough vaccine is available, the department said. People should check that their vaccination is up to date.
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