Kenosha Unified School District: Case of pertussis confirmed at Indian Trail High School
KENOSHA -- Officials with the Kenosha Unified School District say a student who attends Indian Trail High School has been diagnosed with a confirmed case of pertussis (whooping cough).
KUSD officials have issued the following letter to parents:
January 5, 2016
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Your child may have been exposed to a confirmed case of pertussis (whooping cough), a reportable communicable disease, at Indian Trail High School and Academy. A person exposed to pertussis can develop the disease up to three weeks later. The Kenosha County Division of Health is conducting the investigation and follow-up of the case as required by Wisconsin State Statute 252 to prevent, minimize, and control the spread of pertussis due to this exposure.
Pertussis begins with respiratory symptoms of cold and cough and can quickly progress into severe fits of coughing and may be accompanied by vomiting. The classic cough (sounds like a whoop) may or may not be present. In some cases, the illness may seem to be a cold accompanied by a prolonged cough, which can last for six weeks or more. The pertussis disease is known as the “cough for 100 days.” Pertussis is spread by contact with the respiratory secretions or airborne droplets from an infected person. The most effective way to prevent pertussis is through vaccination with DTaP for infants and children and with Tdap for pre-teens, teens and adults, including parents/grandparents, as protection from the childhood vaccine fades over time.
These vaccines are available from the Kenosha County Division of Health at three locations:
Kenosha County Job Center
8600 Sheridan Road Kenosha, WI 53143
Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Kenosha County Center
HWY 45 & 50 Bristol, WI 53104
Monday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Closed noon-1 p.m. Tuesday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed noon-1 p.m. Wednesday & Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Wellness Center Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency
2000-63rd Street
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Second Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Third Saturday of each month 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
If your child is currently ill with respiratory symptoms or if your child develops symptoms in the next 21 days, please contact your physician immediately! Cases or suspect cases must be reported to local public health authorities. Please bring this letter with you if you seek medical care. For more information, please contact the Kenosha County Division of Health.
According to the CDC, pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious, even deadly, for babies less than a year old.
CLICK HERE to learn more about pertussis via the CDC.