In a letter sent to some parents on Tuesday, a student at McDermoth Elementary was reported to have whooping cough.
In a letter released to KXRO from Health Officer Dr. John Bauscher of the Grays Harbor County Public Health & Social Services Department, they say that they received a report of the pertussis diagnosis.
They remind residents that pertussis is most dangerous for babies under one year old and women in their last weeks of pregnancy, They say that the infection of the respiratory tract causes runny nose, sneezing, cough, and low-grade fever.
After 1-2 weeks, the cough from the illness becomes more severe and people sometimes cough until they vomit or make a “whooping” noise as they breath in.
Symptoms of pertussis are said to usually appear between 7 and 10 days of exposure.
The McDermoth student was contagious at school only on the morning of January 21st.
What to do:
They advise that a vaccine can prevent pertussis. Children 11 and older that have not had a tetanus booster should get a shot for tetanus diphtheria, and pertussis.
More information about pertussis and the vaccine is available at the centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.
For assistance with questions about your child’s health, contact your health care provider or public health at (360) 5321-8632.