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Source: http://www.ksfy.com/news/local/83069897.html
Sixth Case of Whooping Cough In Sioux Falls
By KSFY Staff
Story Updated: Jan 29, 2010 at 6:37 PM CST
A confirmed case of the whooping cough at a Sioux Falls elementary school.
Parents at Harvey Dunn got aletter sent home, letting them know about the contagious illness.
It's the 6th confirmed case throughout the district.
The district says the affected student is no longer contagious, but symptoms could develop in other students over the next few weeks.
The information went also out in an e-mail last night alerting parents to the confirmed case of whooping cough.
Rebecca Bauman has two students at the school and says, "I was surprised because it's the second one that we've had so far this year and both were just at Harvey Dunn so I don't know what's going around."
Even thought it's just one confirmed case, Sioux Falls School District's Head Nurse Sheila Freez says it's important to let parents know.
"Whooping cough starts as a common cold so we let parents know there's something else going around."
Freez says parents should watch for a cough that only gets worse, coughing until your student vomits, or a cough with a whooping sound.
That said, the parents we spoke with, like Lisa Stellinga, say they're not too concerned.
"They can go to McDonald's, they can go to the mail and they can catch something. I don't think it's good to be paranoid."
Most children are immunized as babies against pertussis - or the whooping cough.
However Freez says that immunity wears off as children get older.
So she says parents should consider getting their 11 or 12 year old a pertussis booster shot - or T-DAP.
Sixth Case of Whooping Cough In Sioux Falls
By KSFY Staff
Story Updated: Jan 29, 2010 at 6:37 PM CST
A confirmed case of the whooping cough at a Sioux Falls elementary school.
Parents at Harvey Dunn got aletter sent home, letting them know about the contagious illness.
It's the 6th confirmed case throughout the district.
The district says the affected student is no longer contagious, but symptoms could develop in other students over the next few weeks.
The information went also out in an e-mail last night alerting parents to the confirmed case of whooping cough.
Rebecca Bauman has two students at the school and says, "I was surprised because it's the second one that we've had so far this year and both were just at Harvey Dunn so I don't know what's going around."
Even thought it's just one confirmed case, Sioux Falls School District's Head Nurse Sheila Freez says it's important to let parents know.
"Whooping cough starts as a common cold so we let parents know there's something else going around."
Freez says parents should watch for a cough that only gets worse, coughing until your student vomits, or a cough with a whooping sound.
That said, the parents we spoke with, like Lisa Stellinga, say they're not too concerned.
"They can go to McDonald's, they can go to the mail and they can catch something. I don't think it's good to be paranoid."
Most children are immunized as babies against pertussis - or the whooping cough.
However Freez says that immunity wears off as children get older.
So she says parents should consider getting their 11 or 12 year old a pertussis booster shot - or T-DAP.