The sign outside the Yukon Health and Social Services office on Lambert St. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is reporting a rise in whooping cough cases and is urging residents to watch for symptoms.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that spreads through coughing, sneezing or close face-to-face contact. It often starts like a cold before turning into a worsening cough that can last for weeks.
Severe coughing fits may cause gagging or vomiting and can be followed by a high-pitched “whoop.” Infants may have pauses in breathing.
A Yukon Government release says that anyone with a persistent new cough or symptoms of pertussis should stay home and contact a healthcare provider, while people with severe symptoms should seek urgent care.
