The principal at Palm Beach Central High School has notified parents and guardians that a student at the school has whooping cough, also known as pertussis.
The Palm Beach County School district and Palm Beach County Health Department is telling parents with kids at Palm Beach Central High to get their kids vaccinated for whooping cough if they haven't already.
Principal Darren L. Edgecomb made the announcement in a robo call.
He said parents of students identified as having been in close contact to the individual were contacted by the Florida Department of Health.
Here's how the CDC describes whooping cough:
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious, even deadly, for babies less than a year old.
The best way to protect against pertussis is immunization.
The principal said most children have been vaccinated against the disease and that all students have been given a detailed letter with further information.
“Over the next 21 days if you observe your child with runny nose, fever or cough please contact your doctor,” Edgecomb said in the recorded phone call.
"It's always good to have vaccines as a preventive for situations like this," said Stacey Haldsworth, a parent. "You can't foresee what other people do, so all you can do is safeguard yourself."
Students say they were talking about the whooping cough case and hoping that it doesn't spread.
"I thought that at some point someone else is going to start getting sick and I started getting a little worried," said Hannah Chin, a sophomore.
Palm Beach County Health District leaders are also reviewing the immunization records of students in close contact with the sick student.
The school district says seven classrooms had to be cleaned and sterilized today.
County health leaders are urging parents to make sure their children receive the most up-to-date vaccinations. A preventive measure, they say, that could make all the difference.
"You can't police everything, so it's up to the parents to take action and be responsible for their own kids," said Ernie Garcia, a parent.
The principal says parents with questions can call the epidemiology program at the Florida Department of Health at 561.671.4184.
The health department will also be offering the booster at the clinics in West Palm and Lantana.
Story updated to clarify Hannah Chin's name.
