A student at Riley Avenue Elementary School has been diagnosed with Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, according to Superintendent Nancy Carney.

The student is the second in the district to have been confirmed with whooping cough this school year, after a high school student in December was diagnosed. 

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that begins with cold-like symptoms and progresses to severe coughing after one to two weeks. The disease is treated with antibiotics.

A letter sent in December from school physician Dr. Bellamy Brook is attached as a .pdf for parents. Also more information can be found on the school district's website.

Carney said that the Riley Avenue custodial staff is taking extra precautions in cleaning the Calverton school.

She added in an interview on Tuesday afternoon that the child has been cleared to return from school. She said the school district was notified of the case on Monday and confirmed it on Tuesday.

"From what I understand, the parent was very vigilant about keeping the child home from school and getting the student proper medical attention, and was good at notifying the school district," she said. 

Early symptoms of whooping cough include low grade-fever, mild and occasional cough, runny nose, and sleep apnea. Later symptoms include coughing fits, exhaustion, and vomiting.

In October, Suffolk County Health Department Commissioner said Dr. James Tomarken the number of whooping cough cases have more than tripled this year compared to 2010, and cautioned residents about the infection, which could, in severe cases, prove to be fatal.

“In order to contain the spread of infection, we ask health care providers to consider pertussis as a possible diagnosis when patients present with cold-like symptoms and a dry cough,” Tomarken said. “Early detection and appropriate antibiotic treatment is the key to minimizing symptoms and containing the spread of the infection.”

The county health department reported over 200 incidents of pertussis this year, compared to just 54 last year and 75 in 2009.

Parents and physicians who have questions about pertussis can contact the Suffolk County Department of Health Services’ Division of Public Health at 631-853-3055.