BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — A student at Lakeview High School in Battle Creek has been diagnosed with pertussis, or whooping cough, according to the Calhoun County Public Health Department.
The school was able to confirm the release sent out from the health department on May 17, which details the symptoms related to the serious, yet preventable, illness.
Pertussis is a disease caused by bacteria that is spread through sneezing and coughing which typically holds a 7-10 day incubation period, but could take three weeks at most until signs begin to show. The health department says early onset stages could resemble a common cold: sneezing, runny nose, dry cough and a low-grade fever are common.
Lakeview High School pertussis notice.
Pertussis is preventable via vaccination and treatable by antibiotics if detected early enough, though the health department says children over the age of 10 may need a booster vaccine even if they received the vaccination at a younger age. They encourage checking your child’s health records to ensure they are protected against the disease.
If your child begins to develop symptoms similar to whooping cough, the health department encourages you to keep him or her home from school and contact your doctor immediately.