The Yukon’s acting chief medical officer is warning parents to watch for signs of pertussis, or whooping cough, in their children.
Five Yukon kids have been diagnosed with the disease, said Dr. Sharon Lazeo in a release. It’s believed to have spread from B.C. visitors during the Yukon Native Hockey Tournament in late March.
Whooping cough is an extremely contagious, airborne illness. It takes between seven to 10 days to develop symptoms.
It starts like a cold, but later induces long spells of coughing. The disease’s common name comes from the wheeze or whoop made when the person breathes in after a long coughing fit. The cough can last up to two months and happens more at night.
Anyone who thinks they have the disease is advised to see their family physician or visit the health clinic or hospital emergency room.