According to administration, two students are to stay at home due to contracting Pertussis. Commonly known as “Whooping Cough”, it is a highly contagious infection that causes uncontrollable, violent coughing that can last for the upwards of weeks.
Due to a compacted population of high school students and faculty, the students are advised to stay home until cleared by a doctor to return.
Please not the following:
• The City-County Health Department is involved and those professionals are in the process of notifying students and parents who were potentially exposed. Following their advice, we are aggressively addressing this health issue and are confident that we will be able to minimize the incidents of additional infections.
• The first symptoms of Pertussis are similar to those of a common cold: runny nose, sneezing, mild cough and a low-grade fever. After about 1 to 2 weeks, the cough evolves into coughing spells during which the person may turn red or purple. At the end of a spell, the person may make a characteristic whooping sound when breathing in or may vomit. Between spells, the person usually feels well.
• People with the symptoms should seek medical care. Pertussis may be treated with antibiotics.
• Immunizations are effective in preventing pertussis. Check immunization status today.
• Use standard precautions like hand washing and cough/sneeze coverage. Please check this website for more information: http://bit.ly/1se5FE9
• For more information, contact the City County Health Department at 454-6950 and ask for the Public Health Nurse.