55 confirmed cases of whooping cough since outbreak, says N.W.T. chief health officer – CBC

Dr. Kami Kandola says peak for new cases has passed, but they’re still being found

Feb 13, 2020

The whooping cough outbreak in Yellowknife and the Tłı̨chǫ region of the Northwest Territories remains ongoing, despite a decline in new cases in the last month.

Dr. Kami Kandola, the Northwest Territories chief public health officer, says since the start of the outbreak, there have been 62 possible cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, in the designated areas. Fifty-five of those cases have been confirmed by medical authorities.

Kandola says the week of Jan. 12 included the most new cases of whooping cough at 12, but health authorities are still reporting positive cases.

Whooping cough is a contagious infection in the lungs caused by bacteria in the mouth, nose and throat. Kandola says health care workers have given 800 doses of the pertussis-containing vaccine since the start of the outbreak.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/whooping-cough-update-nwt-1.5462724