Twenty-three Festus R-6 School District students have had confirmed cases of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, since an outbreak began there last month. However, fewer students have been showing symptoms over the past several days and district officials hope the outbreak has peaked.
In addition, two Hillsboro R-3 School District students have been diagnosed with whooping cough, Superintendent Jon Isaacson said Tuesday.
No confirmed cases have been reported anywhere else in the county.
Festus
Kevin Pope, the Festus R-6 coordinator of communications and special projects, said Tuesday that 21 Festus High School students and two Festus Intermediate School students had been diagnosed with whooping cough.
He said 59 other students tested negative for the illness, and 23 others were treated with antibiotics without being tested for whooping cough.
“We still have a few results that are pending,” Pope said.
He said district officials are encouraged that the number of new confirmed cases has slowed. Only five of the 23 confirmed cases have come since Nov. 8, Superintendent Link Luttrell said in an email to parents Tuesday.
“We are hopeful we have turned the corner and are beginning to see improvement,” Pope said. “Over the past few days, fewer students were either sent home or were kept home by their parents because they showed symptoms.”
Luttrell first sent R-6 parents an email on Oct. 22 informing them that Jefferson County Health Department officials had notified the district that day about two confirmed cases in the district. The number of confirmed cases grew after that date.
Hillsboro
Isaacson said Tuesday that R-3 officials were notified Nov. 8 of the district’s only two confirmed cases of whooping cough.
He said the district has not been notified of any new confirmed cases since that date.
However, he said 12 students have shown symptoms of the disease; one among the 12 tested negative for the illness. He said the district is waiting on test results from two other students who showed symptoms.
According to the Health Department, whooping cough can be a serious bacterial illness, “especially in young, unvaccinated children.”
Symptoms for the disease include a runny nose, sneezing, a mild cough and, possibly, a fever. “After one or two weeks, symptoms could include an explosive cough that can end in vomiting and/or in a high-pitched whoop. Coughing attacks most often occur at night and can remain up to three months,” the Health Department reported.
The Health Department is recommending that kids who are showing signs of the illness go home, see a doctor and possibly start on medication.
A person with whooping cough is contagious from the time of the first symptoms until 21 days after a cough begins, the school district reported.
Health Department officials encourage those who believe someone in their home has been exposed to whooping cough or has had a cough for seven or more days to contact their health care providers. Lab tests can confirm the illness.
Antibiotics will reduce the contagious periods but may do little to relieve the cough, according to the Health Department information.