Eastern Alamance High School Student Diagnosed with Pertussis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2009
Eastern Alamance High School Student Diagnosed with Pertussis
The Alamance County Health Department was notified Friday afternoon by the NC State Laboratory for Public Health in Raleigh that an Eastern Alamance High School student in Mebane has been diagnosed with pertussis infection (whooping cough). The affected student is currently undergoing treatment. Due to the need for confidentiality, the name of this individual will not be released.
Pertussis is a bacterial infection that often starts with typical cold symptoms (runny nose, low grade fever, and possibly cough) and over 1-2 weeks, usually develops into prolonged bursts of coughing, often with a whooping noise at the end. The person usually feels well between attacks. Parents should not be alarmed as this infection is rarely a cause of serious disease or hospitalization in school age children (or adults).
The Alamance-Burlington School System has notified parents and affected staff. In addition, medical providers and health care providers in the community have been notified. Due to the possibility that the student had direct contact with a segment of the school population, it may be necessary for those potentially exposed to receive preventative antibiotic treatment.
Students in five classrooms (at Eastern) and those on Bus 345 (which also transported Woodlawn Middle School students) have been identified as possibly being exposed. If you believe that you may have been exposed, please call the Alamance County Health Department Communicable Disease Hotline at (336) 221-1902, (336) 266-6468, or (336) 516-7715. If you are unable to reach a nurse on duty, please leave a message and your contact number. Your call will be returned promptly.