Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory disease, according to the Center for Disease Control. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis
In a pre-recorded phone call to school district parents Wednesday morning, Superintendent of Schools Ed Ehmann said nine cases were reported at Nesaquake Middle School, four at St. James Elementary School and one at Tackan Elementary School. Ehmann also said that letters would be sent out to parents in those three schools but decided to make the phone calls today to because he “wanted to let everyone know this situation exists.”
Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. In addition to the cough, runny nose and a slight fever are also symptoms.
Smithtown school students are immunized against the disease, which is reportedly helping to reduce the severity of the illness. However, public health officials advise that the pertussis immunization may be only 80 percent effective and that protection from the vaccination often wanes by the pre-pubescent years.
“Pertussis has been common in the community in recent years, mostly among adults, in whom immunity has waned,” said Suffolk County Health Commissioner James L. Tomarken in a released statement Tuesday. “While most individuals will recover fully from pertussis, we are concerned about infants who have not received full immunization and to whom pertussis is particularly dangerous and can be fatal.”
Suffolk County public health officials have alerted area pediatricians of the outbreak and have advised school officials to implement appropriate infection control measures.
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