Whooping Cough Reported At Sunset Primary

, a University Place student has been diagnosed with whooping cough.

The student attends . The district is stressing that whooping cough, known as pertussis, "is spread only by person-to-person contact, not via third party or surface contagion."

In January, the district reported that another student had contracted whooping cough, and cases have also been reported in Tacoma.

Here's the message the posted on its website:

February 18, 2011

Dear Sunset Primary Families,

We have been informed that a student at Sunset  Primary has been diagnosed with pertussis (i.e., "whooping cough"). Pertussis is highly contagious from person-to-person, and is spread by contact with respiratory fluids through sneezing or coughing. Pertussis is spread only by person-to-person contact, not via third party or surface contagion. I want to provide you with the following information about pertussis from the Pierce County Health Department.

Pertussis starts with typical cold symptoms, including runny nose followed by a cough illness. The classic or "whooping cough" form of pertussis is easy to recognize, and usually presents as severe coughing spells followed by a "whoop" sound or vomiting. However, in older children and adults, the disease may appear as a prolonged cough illness without the classic "whoop" sound.

If your child develops a cough that becomes progressively worse over a two week period, the Health Department recommends you contact your primary care provider.

The Health Department recommends that young children be immunized with a series of DTaP, on the following schedule:

   2 months       4 months       6 months       12-18 months       4-5 years

It is a good idea to check your child's immunization records to be sure that he/she has had the recommended number of DTaP immunizations.

There is also a new immunization against pertussis called Tdap for people age 11 to age 64. This immunization is in combination with tetanus and diphtheria and can be given the next time you or your adolescent is due for tetanus and diphtheria boosters (normally given every 10 years; however, the new pertussis vaccine may be administered as soon as 2 years after your last tetanus dose).

For more information, please contact your health care provider, or follow this link to information on the Pierce County Health Department Website.http://www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/factsheet/pertussis.htm.

Thank you for working with us to keep all our students healthy and safe at school.

John Sander, Executive Director of Special Services,

University Place School District