Whooping cough outbreak declared in Igloolik

A whooping cough outbreak has been declared in Igloolik, three days after the Department of Health confirmed its first case in the community.

Dr. Ekua Agyemang, the territory’s acting chief public health officer, declared an outbreak in the hamlet, according to a public health advisory released Monday.

The department advised residents of Igloolik to avoid gatherings and travel.

Whooping cough is a respiratory disease that is easily spread from person to person. The most severe cases are in children under the age of one, the advisory said.

Anyone who is mildly ill should stay home and avoid contact with others until the symptoms are gone. This will prevent the spread of illness, the advisory said.

The department is asking anyone experiencing the following symptoms to contact their local health centre:

• a cough that lasts longer than a week and is followed by an unusual sound, like a “whoop”;
• difficulty breathing;
• vomiting after coughing;
• having a cough that is worse at night;
• a high fever (39 C and above) that lasts more than three days.

Whooping cough vaccination is available. Nunavummiut are advised to ensure their vaccination is up to date.

The Health Department did not respond to a request for information on how many cases of whooping cough have been detected in Igloolik.