The Department of Health is advising Nunavummiut that a confirmed case of whooping cough was diagnosed on Canadian North flight 4119 from Iqaluit to Rankin Inlet on March 9.

Sean Wachtel, the territory鈥檚 chief public health officer, is advising anyone who travelled on this flight 鈥� especially those seated in rows 1 to 4 鈥� to monitor for symptoms.

Please call your community health centre immediately if you were a passenger and you develop a mild cough, sneeze or runny nose.

Other symptoms include:

-cough lasting longer than a week

-cough followed by a sound that sounds like 鈥渨hoop鈥�

-difficulty breathing

-vomiting after coughing

-coughing that gets worse at night

-fever of 39 C and above lasting more than three days

Whooping cough can be prevented by getting vaccinated. Nunavummiut should check that all vaccines are up to date.

Precautions that can be taken to reduce the odds of contracting contagious illnesses include frequent handwashing; directing a cough into a sleeve or a tissue; not sharing food, drinks, utensils or toothbrushes.

Learn more about whooping cough by reading the fact sheet available on the Department of Health鈥檚 website.