Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Information
Dear Staff, Parents and Caregivers
Regional Public Health has had several notifications recently of confirmed cases of Whooping Cough in both adults and children. The bacteria are circulating in the community, which potentially can put young babies and small children at risk of this highly infectious disease. (In children under one year of age this can be very serious. Women in the last four weeks of pregnancy are advised to attend their GP). Whooping cough may start with a runny nose which then proceeds to coughing. You are infectious from the time of the runny nose until three weeks after the bad cough starts. (If treated with a 10-14 day course of Erythromycin you are no longer infectious after you have completed five days of the 14 day course.)
For families, students and staff the following actions are recommended:
Anyone with a persistent cough should see their doctor and remain away from school or work until the doctor is sure it is not whooping cough. All children should be up-to-date with their Pertussis immunisations and are advised to check with their family doctor. Pertussis immunisation is given at six weeks, three months, five months and a booster at four and 11 years of age.
Whooping cough is usually characterised by a cough lasting longer than two weeks with spasms of coughing ending in vomiting or difficulty breathing. This is often accompanied by a whooping sound. However don't wait until someone has had the cough for more than two weeks before checking it out. Remember that adults can also get whooping cough but usually do not have the classical whooping and vomiting after bouts of coughing.
Please feel free to contact the Health Office at Scots College on (04) 388 0852 if you have any concerns or need further advice. Alternatively please contact your family doctor or practice nurse, or phone the Communicable Disease Team (Public Health Nurse or Medical Officer) on (04) 570 9002.