The Department of Health is advising all Nunavummiut of a confirmed case of whooping cough on Calm Air flight MO 261 from Whale Cove to Rankin Inlet on March 17, 2024.
Nunavut chief public health officer Sean Wachtel is urging anyone who travelled from Whale Cove to Rankin Inlet on that plane to monitor for symptoms.
The Government of Nunavut issued a news release relating to the health risk on April 4.
This is the second flight associated with a whooping cough advisory. On March 19, the GN publicized that a confirmed case of whooping cough was diagnosed on Canadian North flight 4119 from Iqaluit to Rankin Inlet on March 9.
Call your health centre immediately if you were on the flight and develop a mild cough, sneeze, or develop a runny nose. Other symptoms are as follows:
-cough lasting longer than a week
-cough followed by an unusual sound that sound, like a “whoop”
-trouble breathing
-vomiting after coughing
-coughing that gets worse at night
-a high fever (39 C and above), lasting more than three days
Whooping cough is preventable by vaccination. Nunavummiut need to check that their vaccines are up to date.
Precautions include:
-frequent handwashing
-coughing into your sleeve or tissue
-refraining from sharing food, drinks, utensils or toothbrushes
Learn more about whooping cough by reading the pertussis factsheet available on the GN’s Department of Health website.