An individual at Foothills Composite High School has been diagnosed with whooping cough, and Alberta Health Services is urging parents, staff and students to be aware.
"Please observe yourself and/or your child closely for any symptoms of pertussis (whooping cough) which will occur up to 21 days after contact," said Danielle Travers, a public health nurse with the Communicable Disease Unit in a press release released on Sept. 13.
"The symptoms to watch for are: a persistent cough which is worse at night, a cough which may be accompanied by a whooping sound when breathing in; coughing spells which may end in vomiting or gagging.
"If these symptoms occur, contact your physician or call Health Link at 811 for HealthAdvice 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
The release said whooping cough is "a serious childhood disease that can also affect adults."
It also stated up-to-date immunization is the best way of being protected against pertussis; however even those with immunization may experience some illness.
Please assess your immunization record. Adequate protection is three doses of vaccine containing pertussis before one year of age; a booster dose at 18 months; a dose after four years of age; and another dose given at 14 years of age. It is recommended that all adults 18 years of age and older have one dose of pertussis containing vaccine [called dTap].
The routine immunization schedule can be found at: www.immunizealberta.ca
Call Health Link if you are not sure of your immunization status. Health Link can direct you to your local Community Health Centre or rural Public Health office if vaccination is needed.
Health information on pertussis can be found at: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=hw65653
