Staff Report
Upon learning of a case of Whooping cough in the district, Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) Superintendent Jennifer Guy issued a letter Monday to parents and caregivers.
“I am writing to inform you that this afternoon we were notified by the Department of Health that a Los Alamos High School student has tested positive for Pertussis,” Superintendent Guy said in the letter. “The school nurse is working closely with the NM Department of Health and the family to get more information and to identify any close contacts. If your child is identified as a possible close contact, you will receive a separate letter and phone call from the school nurse or high school administrator.”
She explained that Pertussis, which is commonly called Whooping cough, is a very contagious bacterial infection that can spread through close contact when people with the disease cough. Symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after infection. It usually starts like a common cold (e.g., sneezing, runny nose, etc.) followed by a cough that gets worse over one to two weeks. People with whooping cough may have coughing spells in which they can’t catch their breath between coughs. Some may loudly gasp (“whoop”) and vomit or feel like they’re choking. There is usually no fever with whooping cough.
In general, the whooping cough vaccines are very effective in either preventing disease or decreasing its severity soon after receiving the vaccine series or booster dose, Superintendent Guy said, adding that immunity from vaccination wanes quickly over time, so even children and adults who have been fully vaccinated can get whooping cough.
She encourages parents and caregivers to discuss with their health care provider whether they or their children may benefit from a vaccine. It may be important for some of the adults in our community to have a booster, Superintendent Guy said in her letter. Find more information by contacting the doctor or visiting the NM Department of Health website.
In a letter to parents and caregivers today, Superintendent Guy emphasized that it is important to note that LAPS is acting swiftly on this matter since pertussis is a highly contagious disease, more contagious, for example, than diphtheria, mumps, rubella (German measles), or polio. Pertussis is spread by respiratory droplets and, on average, a person with pertussis infects 12-17 other people. Symptoms usually begin 7-10 days after exposure. Hand washing, disinfecting surfaces that may be exposed, and air filtration can reduce the risk of disease spread.
She explained that the high school nurse has completed all of the contact tracing for the case discovered Monday, and all close contacts and their parents have been notified. Today, LAPS learned of two additional students who are symptomatic and waiting for test results to confirm or rule out a whooping cough case. LAPS is proactively contacting tracing with these students and will make appropriate notifications.
As Superintendent Guy mentioned in her letter on Monday, Pertussis usually starts like a common cold (such as sneezing, runny nose, etc.) followed by a cough that gets worse over one to two weeks. People with whooping cough may have coughing spells in which they can’t catch their breath between coughs. Some may loudly gasp (“whoop”) and vomit or feel like they’re choking. The cough may linger for up to 8 weeks, and in some cases, mostly in adults, a prolonged cough may be the only symptom. The early phase of whooping cough may be accompanied by a low-grade fever.
LAPS encourages the community to be aware of these symptoms so they can seek medical care if needed for themselves or their loved ones.
For further information on whooping cough, LAPS encourages people to review the following CDC links:
