Whooping cough outbreaks declared in Iqaluit, Pond Inlet

Whooping cough outbreaks have been declared in Iqaluit and Pond Inlet.

The Department of Health released two public health advisories Friday about the outbreaks, which were declared by Dr. Ekua Agyemang, Nunavut’s chief public health officer.

The advisories do not indicate how many cases have been confirmed.

Whooping cough is a contagious infection of the throat and lungs. The most severe cases occur in infants under the age of one, according to the Health Department.

The department recommends adults and children with symptoms of whooping cough stay home until their symptoms have cleared up. The disease, which is also known as pertussis, spreads easily from person to person.

Symptoms can include a cough lasting longer than a week, which can get worse at night; a cough followed by an unusual sound, like a “whoop”; difficulty breathing and sometimes vomiting after coughing; and a fever of 39 C or higher that lasts more than three days.

Whooping cough is a preventable disease with vaccines normally provided at local health centres and public health offices.

As well, some preventable measures include frequent hand washing, coughing into your sleeve and not sharing food, drinks, utensils or toothbrushes.

Nunavut has had several whooping cough outbreaks in the past years including one in Kugaaruk declared June 17 and Naujaat on March 20. A whooping cough outbreak declared in Igloolik in December was declared over in early April.