Fayetteville middle school reports pertussis case

FILE PHOTO The Fayetteville Public Schools McClinton Administration Building.
FILE PHOTO The Fayetteville Public Schools McClinton Administration Building.

FAYETTEVILLE -- A McNair Middle School student has been diagnosed with pertussis, according to the School District.

It's the fourth reported case of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in the district in the last two months. The other three were at Woodland Junior High School.

Pertussis is a highly contagious disease involving the respiratory tract. The district emailed a letter to McNair parents Tuesday announcing the latest case. The school nurse will review immunization records to see if students need an additional dose of pertussis vaccine, according to the letter.

All students should be observed for respiratory symptoms for the next 14 days. Anyone with a severe cough should be excluded from school and evaluated by a physician, and all students identified as having been in close contact with a diagnosed child will receive additional guidance from the school nurse, according to the letter.

The district notifies parents and guardians each time a new diagnosis is received in accordance with guidance from the Arkansas Department of Health.

The last day of the school year is Friday for schools on the traditional calendar.

NW News on 05/22/2019

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