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Cary-Grove reacts to 9 cases of whooping cough

In response to nine confirmed cases of whooping cough discovered among Cary-Grove High School students, school officials have taken a three-pronged approach to keep the disease from spreading.

The first involves cleaning the school from top to bottom every day and at night, with a focus on disinfecting high traffic and touch areas, such as stairwells, doorknobs, water faucets and handrails, said Jeff Puma, director of communications for Crystal Lake High School District 155.

The district also has instructed students, teachers and faculty members on the proper way to cover your mouth when you cough and has papered the school with signs as reminders.

Beyond that, the district sent out two letters to Cary-Grove families about whooping cough when the first two cases were discovered at the school the week of Sept. 12 and the week of Oct. 3. Included with them was advice on curbing the spread of the disease and treating its symptoms, Puma said.

This approach has helped retain a sense of normalcy at the school, Puma said. “Those things help make the atmosphere more conducive to learning.”

The McHenry County Department of Health confirmed nine cases of whooping cough among students at Cary-Grove High School in the last 30 days.

All of the students are receiving antibiotics, health officials said.

That number matches the overall number the health department saw in all of 2010. There were 51 cases in 2009.

Whooping cough — or pertussis — is a contagious bacterial infection that causes a range of symptoms. It is easily spread through coughing and sneezing, health department officials said.

Symptoms may appear 5 to 10 days after exposure but can take three weeks to show up. Puma could not say whether those affected had yet returned to school.

Initial symptoms are similar to those of a common cold but after a week or two can develop into bursts of numerous, rapid coughs with a distinctive “whooping” sound.

While it can be mild in some cases, it poses a greater risk to infants who are not fully immunized, those with compromised immune systems and older people.

Health authorities recommend that if you live with someone with whooping cough that you also take antibiotics to halt its spread.

For details, visit www.mcdh.info or call MCDH’s Communicable Disease Division at (815) 334-4500.

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