In an email sent out on Nov. 13 Donna Clark, director of school health services, informed parents and staff that students within the school district had been diagnosed with whooping cough.
“Whooping cough is also known as pertussis and is a very contagious respiratory illness caused by the bacteria, bordetella pertussis,” school nurse Audrey Coffman said. “It may begin like a common cold, but the cough may last for weeks or months.”
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) the number of reported whooping cough cases in 2024 so far is triple the number of cases reported compared to the same period of time in 2023.
“Symptoms include violent cough, fever, sneezing, runny nose, watery/sore eyes, lip/tongue/nailbeds turning blue,” Coffman said.
Coffman said that the number one way to prevent whooping cough is to get vaccinated against the illness. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the DTaP vaccine be given to children as young as two months up to the age of six. The CDC also recommends that preteens, pregnant women, and previously unvaccinated adults receive the TDaP vaccination.
“The vaccine usually protects against whooping cough; however, older children, teenagers and adults who were completely immunized before they started kindergarten can get whooping cough as protection from the vaccine wears off over time,” Clark wrote in the email. “This is why a booster dose of vaccine is recommended for those 11-18 years of age and for adults.”
If someone suspects that they have contracted whooping cough it is important that they see their doctor right away. Whooping cough treatment consists of a five day course of antibiotics.
“My opinion on the whooping cough is that honestly, even though I’m vaccinated, I’m really scared to get it because I just don’t want to get sick,” junior Elaina Hepting said. “It seems like everybody else is sick, and I’m scared because everytime I cough or clear my throat everyone is like ‘Oh, do you have the whoop?’ and I really don’t want the whoop.”
While some students are worried like Hepting, other students like freshman Samuel Gooch are keeping a positive mindset.
“I don’t think it would be that big of a deal even if I did get it,” Gooch said. “I would be fine and I usually recover very quickly. I am not scared of getting the whooping cough!”
