Confirmed Case Of Whooping Cough Reported At School

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX -- Local health officials have confirmed at least one case of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, at an elementary school in South Austin.

Officials from the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department notified parents of students at Williams Elementary School near South First Street and Dittmar Road that one student was found to have contracted the disease, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Health officials encourage parents to consult with their child’s doctor because of possible exposure to the disease.

A case of whooping cough also was confirmed at Manor High School last month. The Manor school district at the time recommended that parents keep their children home from school and extracurricular activities if they have a cough.

Health department officials ask parents to monitor members of their family for symptoms that include runny nose, sneezing and mild fever and cough. Early symptoms usually appear within five to 21 days of exposure, health officials said.

Philip Huang, the health department’s medical director, urges parents to review their children’s immunization records and follow up with their doctors.