Whooping Cough Reported At William T. Rogers Middle School

 A case of Pertussis has been reported at according to the Kings Park School District website.

According to the Suffolk County Department of Health, Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory illness that is spread through the air by cough from an infected individual. It can take up to three weeks for symptoms to develop and last for up to six weeks. 

Symptoms include fever and coughing fits accompanied by long whooping sounds and or vomiting/gagging. In some cases, Whooping Cough can be fatal to infants who are not fully immunized.

Neighboring districts have also had reported cases. An individual at Commack High School was diagnosed with Pertussis in early December and was the second confirmed case at the high school last year. The reported a case of  Pertussis, at the in late November.

The Department of Health Services advises if a child’s health care provider suspects a diagnosis of Pertussis, orders testing and prescribes antibiotics, that the child remain home until five days of antibiotic treatment is completed.