Creekside Elementary School warns parents after whooping cough case reported

HARVEST, Ala. ( WHNT ) — Officials at Creekside Elementary School are warning parents after a case of whooping cough was reported at the school.

In a letter sent to parents on Thursday, the school said a case of pertussis, commonly called whooping cough, had been reported at the school.

ADPH confirms 4 whooping cough outbreaks in North Alabama counties, cases tripled from 2023

The report of the case comes one week after the Alabama Department of Public Health said it had confirmed whooping cough outbreaks in schools in Madison, Limestone, Lauderdale and Jackson Counties.

The agency said it has received reports of 124 cases of the disease so far this year, a marked increase from 41 cases in 2023.

ADPH said whooping cough is caused by bacteria that cause respiratory illness and is spread through close contact. The illness begins with cold symptoms and can progress to a severe but intermittent cough that can last for up to three months. The agency said most people do not suffer life-threatening illness from the disease it can be dangerous for immuno-compromised people and young infants.

The health agency said the disease usually only spreads during the first 21 days of infection and can be treated by a five-day antibiotic course.

The school asked that parents monitor their children for symptoms for the next three weeks. Officials said if a child has cold symptoms followed by a cough they should be seen by a physician. The school said parents should tell doctors there has been a case of whooping cough reported at their child's school.