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Chatham Middle Schooler Diagnosed With 'Highly Contagious' Whooping Cough, Sup't Says

One Chatham Middle School student has been diagnosed and another is suspected to have whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory infection, district officials said.

Chatham Middle School

Chatham Middle School

Photo Credit: Google Maps

"We continue to monitor the situation at school and if additional actions to control the spread of pertussis among pupils become necessary, we will again notify parents," Superintendent Michael LaSusa said in a letter.

"Please be advised that, due to the confidentiality of health matters of students, we will not release the identity of the student or other information pertaining to them, such as their school schedules. 

"We have been advised by health care providers that this information is irrelevant because an infected person also visits hallways, restrooms, the cafeteria, the library, and other locations where there can be potential transmission of illness."

LaSusa urged parents to monitor their children for pertussis symptoms. The disease begins with cold symptoms that worsen over one or two weeks.

"Symptoms usually include a long series of coughing fits followed by a whooping noise," LaSusa said.

"However, older children, adults and very young infants may not develop the whoop. There is generally only a slight fever. People with pertussis may have a series of severe coughing fits followed immediately by vomiting, turning blue, or difficulty catching breath."

Two students in Summit were diagnosed with the disease in January.

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