Five Festus High School students have confirmed cases of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, Jefferson County Health Department and Festus R-6 School District officials announced today (Oct. 25).
Dylan Steigerwald, the Health Department’s epidemiologist, said those five cases are the only ones confirmed in the county, but the department is investigating nine other possible cases. All of the confirmed cases or cases under investigation have been at Festus High School, he said.
The Festus High School community should pay attention for symptoms of the disease, Steigerwald said.
“Anyone at the high school we are considering exposed right now,” he said.
Steigerwald said no other areas in the county are at an increased risk of people contracting the disease.
Festus Superintendent Link Luttrell sent Festus R-6 parents an email Tuesday (Oct. 22) informing them that Health Department officials had notified the district that day about two confirmed cases.
Since then, the Health Department has updated the district about the other three confirmed cases.
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.
Steigerwald said the best way to prevent getting whooping cough is to get the immunization. By age 12, most people have had five or six doses of the vaccination. There also is a 10-year booster shot.
He said the disease is spread by coughing and sneezing, so he advises people to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze and to practice good hand-washing in an effort to prevent spreading it.
The Health Department is recommending kids who are showing signs to go home, see a doctor and possibly start on medication.
“We don't want coughing kids around other groups,” Steigerwald said.
A person with whooping cough is contagious from the time of the first symptoms until 21 days after cough begins, the school district reported.
Health Department officials encourage those who believe someone in their homes has been exposed to pertussis 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.
Steigerwald said Festus High School has a strong record of students getting their vaccinations, but even if people have had their immunization, they could still get sick.