Harrisburg School District alerts parents of whooping cough exposure

HARRISBURG, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - Whooping cough cases are on the rise across the country and possibly at a South Dakota school.

The Harrisburg School District sent an email to parents of students on Saturday that said, "Your child may have been exposed to whooping cough."

The email continued with recommendations to keep children away from school and activities if they have a cough or health conditions that would be worsened by a cough.

There was no mention in the email about how many students have been confirmed to have whooping cough.

Parents were also encouraged to make sure their students' vaccinations were up to date.

You can read the full email below:

Recommendations:

Please make sure your family's whooping cough vaccinations are up to date. Protection against whooping cough from the childhood vaccine, DTaP, decreases over time. Older children and adults, including pregnant women, should get a whooping cough booster shot called "Tdap" to help protect themselves and babies. If you need Tdap, contact your doctor or call (605) 773-3361 to find a vaccine provider near you.

If you take your child to a doctor for whooping cough, please show the additional information enclosed to him or her. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us the South Dakota Department of Health, or contact your child's school nurse."

-Harrisburg School District, September 28, 2024