Third Whooping Cough Case of School Year Reported in District

A third case of whooping cough this school year has been confirmed within the Riverhead Central School District, this time at Riverhead Middle School.

A letter from Superintendent Nancy Carney dated Feb. 28 confirms the case, which follows a in late January and at the high school.

According to the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, schools throughout the county continue to see a rise in pertussis cases. Over 300 were reported in 2011, compared to just 54 last year and 75 in 2009.

Whooping caugh is highly contagious, and as such, Carney said that Middle School custodial staff are taking extra precautions to ensure a clean environment.

Click here to read a letter from the Suffolk County Department of Health with more details on whooping cough.

“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,” said Dr. James Tomarken, SCDHS commissioner. “Early detection and appropriate antibiotic treatment is the key to minimizing symptoms and containing the spread of the infection.”