Student At Beech Grove Has Whooping Cough

Last updated on Thursday, August 21, 2014

(BEECH GROVE) - Beech Grove City Schools is warning parents after a student at Central Elementary was diagnosed with pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

Assistant Superintendent Thomas Keeley said Wednesday the student is now at home. He does not believe other students are at risk. Still, the district is sending home a notice Wednesday with students and has also used social media and other methods to notify parents.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pertussis is a respiratory illness spread from person-to-person, often through sneezing or coughing near others. Symptoms often take seven to 10 days to develop. Those symptoms are similar to a cold with a mild cough or fever. After a week or two, severe coughing and even coughing fits begin. There are vaccines available for infants, children and adults to help prevent against pertussis.

The Indiana State Department of Health says there has not been a whooping cough death in the Indiana since 2010. That year two deaths were reported.

Pertussis cases per year in Indiana:

2008: 271
2009: 392
2010: 744
2011: 367
2012: 441
2013: 621
2014: 231 (so far)

For more on pertussis, read this fact sheet provided by the Indiana State Department of Health.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

Click here to go back to previous page