By Patricia Bogumil
Staff Writer
Lab work for a student who attends Washington School in Tichigan tested positive for pertussis (whooping cough) earlier this month, causing letters and a fact sheet to be sent home to parents by the Western Racine County Health Department.
The child has since returned to school, Superintendent Mark Pienkos said Monday morning via email.
Pienkos and staff were notified Jan. 10 of the student’s lab results by the school nurse, Jill Sheeley, of the Waterford Area Cooperative Schools.
Classmates of the student took home a letter, notifying parents of their child’s exposure to pertussis and recommending they speak with their child’s doctor about the possible need for preventive antibiotic treatment.
The letter also reminded parents of the importance of keeping their children up-to-date on their pertussis vaccinations.
A second letter sent to all Washington School parents notified them of the occurrence.
Parents who have children in the affected child’s classroom as well as in another classroom received both letters.
Both letters explain that pertussis is a contagious bacterial disease that affects the respiratory tract. It spreads by contact with respiratory droplets from an infected person through coughing.
Exposure to pertussis usually occurs after repeated indoor face-to-face contact, with infants and young children being the most vulnerable.
A fact sheet prepared by the Wisconsin Division of Public Health was also sent home.
The Washington School website asks parents whose child has been tested for pertussis, and those whose child has been diagnosed with parapertussis (a similar but milder bacterial infection) to contact the school office.
For any questions or concerns, the school nurse can be reached directly at (262) 424-2868.
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