Numbers 'change on a daily basis': Whooping cough cases drop to 14 in Pond Inlet

There are now 14 confirmed or suspected cases of whooping cough in Pond Inlet after four tests came back negative, says Nunavut'schief medical officer of health.

Of the 14 cases, Dr. Kim Barker said five have beenconfirmed in a lab.

• Pond Inlet nurses treating anyone with symptoms to stem whooping cough outbreak
• 2 suspected whooping cough cases in Iqaluit as Pond Inlet outbreak continues

An additional two patients in Iqaluit are suspected of having whooping cough, a highlycontagious and sometimes deadly disease. Swab samples have been sent to Ontario for testing but will take a few days to process.

"These numbers do change on a daily basis," Barker said Thursday morning onQulliq, CBC Nunavut's morning radioshow.

"With travel we anticipate this will spread."

Earlieron in the outbreak, a couple of patients were sent south for treatment but Barker said they have since recovered.

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough, also known aspertussis, is a bacterial infection andwas traditionally known as the hundred day cough prior to the invention of antibiotics.

• It's spread through droplets by sneezing or coughing.
• Symptomsinclude a distinct whoop sound followed by coughing.
• It can take up to two weeks to develop symptoms.

"After a few days of the cough you suddenly start whooping after the cough, so it's a distinct noise," Barker said, adding the symptoms aredifferent in infants who typically don't show signs of a whoop in their cough, but rather cough then vomit.

Barker encourages any parents in Iqaluit to bring children with signs ofthe illness to the hospital.

What can I do to protect against whooping cough?

Some general advice includes:

• smoke outside if someone issick;
• avoid sharing utensils;
• cough into your arm;
• get immunized.

"We encourage people to check with their healthcare providers to see if they are up to date with their vaccination," Barker said.

Pregnant mothers in their third trimester are also encouraged to get vaccinated.