Whooping Cough case confirmed at Middleburgh High - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Whooping Cough case confirmed at Middleburgh High

MIDDLEBURGH – A case of pertussis, or whooping cough, has been confirmed in Middleburgh High School.

The County Health Department and the school districts health care provider are closely monitoring the situation and families with children in the district will receive updates.

Although most children have already been immunized against pertussis, immunization does not guarantee that your child will not develop pertussis, but it does decrease their chances.

Ideal child pertussis vaccine history:

• Your children have received five pertussis vaccines DTaP by age 5
• One Tdap at age 11

If your child's vaccinations are not up to date, vaccinations are available in the School-Based Health Center for all students enrolled in the health center.

Parents who suspect their child has been in direct contact with someone with pertussis should contact their family physician.

Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that is spread through the air by cough. Pertussis can begin with cold symptoms, low grade fever and a cough, which becomes much worse over 1 to 2 weeks. Symptoms usually include a long series of coughs ("coughing fits") followed by a whooping noise. However, older children, adults and very young infants may not develop the whoop. People with pertussis may have a series of coughs followed by vomiting, turning blue, or difficulty catching their breath. The cough is often worse at night and cough medicines usually do not help alleviate the cough.