Medicine Hat News
Alberta Health Services has confirmed a case of whooping cough at River Heights Elementary School.
A letter, since posted on social media, was sent this week to parents and guardians of students at the Medicine Hat school. Among other things, it asks anyone diagnosed with whooping cough, also known as pertussis, to remain at home for five days after starting antibiotics. If treatment is not started people are asked to stay home for 21 days after showing symptoms.
The AHS letter advises that symptoms of whooping cough include a runny nose, sneezing, mild cough and fever of up to 39.4 C (103 F) in young children. The cough becomes more severe and more frequent, often followed by a ‘whooping’ sound when breathing. Sufferers can also vomit after a coughing spell.
Older children and adults can experience milder symptoms such as prolonged cough with or without coughing fits and no ‘whoop’, the letter says. Children under one year of age are especially vulnerable and may require hospitalization, it said.
Whooping cough is treatable with antibiotics, with immunization recommended.
MHPSD superintendent Mark Davidson says parental reaction has been quiet since the letter went out Tuesday.
“We’ve had no phone calls.”
He wouldn’t confirm whether the person with symptoms was a student or an adult. “The individual involved is following the directions of the medical officer of health,” he said.
Davidson says staff at River Heights are taking extra precautions, including increasing the cleaning of hard surfaces, etc., at the school.
Dr. Lena Derie-Gillespie, medical officer of health in AHS’s South Zone, said from her Medicine Hat office Wednesday that “it’s not unexpected to see the occasional case” of whooping cough.
Last year, she said, an outbreak in the South Zone occurred around the same time of year, and was under control by early December.
Derie-Gillespie says people who suspect they might have symptoms should not attend school or work, and arrange to see their doctor immediately. “And if you’re not sure of your vaccination status, touch base with public health and see if it’s up to date.”
Whooping cough is most dangerous to those under the age of one, said Derie-Gillespie. Babies are urged to be immunized at the ages of two, four and six months, she said.
More information can be found at immunizealberta.ca.
