Whooping cough in Iqaluit

Public Health Advisory

Whooping cough in Iqaluit

The Department of Health advises that whooping cough (pertussis) in Iqaluit is an ongoing health concern. The best way to protect yourself from whooping cough is to ensure everyone in your household is vaccinated. It is very important that pregnant women in the last trimester, and their families, receive the pertussis vaccine to protect the babies, who could get very sick if they get infected.

Whooping cough is a disease of the throat and lungs that spreads from person to person. Anyone can get whooping cough, but children under the age of one are most at risk of serious illness.

The Department of Health is now asking parents of children and youth who have the following symptoms to visit the hospital:

• a cough followed by an unusual sound that sounds like “whoop” or a funny sounding cough
• vomiting after coughing or not breathing after coughing

Other things you can do to prevent infection with pertussis include:

• frequent handwashing
• coughing into your sleeve or tissue
• not sharing food, drinks, utensils or toothbrushes

To check if your immunizations are up to date, please contact Iqaluit Public Health.

Any cough can be made worse by cigarette smoke, so make sure no one smokes indoors.

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Media Contact:

Ron Wassink
Communications Specialist
Department of Health
867-975-5710
rwassink@gov.nu.ca