Pertussis case identified in New Hanover County school

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Health Department is investigating a confirmed case of pertussis, also called “whooping cough,” at an elementary school in the county, according to a school district news release.

The district says parents of children at Castle Hayne Elementary School, where the case was identified, have already received a New Hanover County Schools Connect5 call about it.

New Hanover County Schools says it is following Health Department’s lead on how to handle the situation. That includes not allowing affected students not to return to school until they have been on antibiotics for at least five days and released by their physician.

According to information including in the school district’s release, pertussis is caused by bacteria that infect the mouth, nose and throat.  It is spread through the air by coughing.

• Pertussis symptoms appear 5-21 days after coming into contact with someone with pertussis infection.
• It begins with cold-like symptoms (sneezing and a runny nose) and a mild occasional cough.
• After 1-2 weeks, the cough worsens and the person may have coughing attacks or spells of coughing, along with difficulty breathing, gagging or vomiting after coughing.
• An unusual “whoop” sound might be heard in young children as they breathe during the coughing episodes.
• Household and high-risk contacts to a confirmed case of pertussis should receive antibiotics to avoid contracting pertussis.

For more information, contact the New Hanover County Health Department at (910) 798-6500.