Eight cases of whooping cough reported in Tippecanoe County

LAFAYETTE — Whooping cough is back — just in time for Christmas and family gatherings.

Five students at a single Tippecanoe School Corp. school contracted the contagious virus, which begins with cold-like symptoms about five to 10 days after exposure to the disease, according to the Tippecanoe County Health Department, which is investigating the outbreak.

Additionally, three other cases in the community have been reported, Health Department communicable disease Nurse Candy Jordan said.

Sue Scott, spokeswoman for Tippecanoe School Corp., said there have been five cases at Harrison High School and one new case at Battle Ground Middle School.

When the first Harrison High School student was diagnosed on Nov. 16, school administrators sent parents a letter reporting the disease and how to prevent it, Scott said. The four other cases were reported after that date.

A second letter is being sent to parents today, Scott said, who added they want parents to be informed about outbreaks.

"We want people to be proactive," Scott said. "We want to keep our kids healthy."

About two weeks after exposure to the virus, the runny nose, mild cough and fever morph into coughing fits, sometimes followed by a high-pitched "whoop" sound. The fits might include vomiting during or after the coughing. Exhaustion is another symptom, according to the health department. 

Whooping cough — or its formal name, pertussis — is preventable through vaccinations, Jordan said, noting that the five students who have the disease were vaccinated.

The state health department is investigating why the vaccines failed to protect the students, Jordan said.

Children should be vaccinated against whooping cough through a series of five doses administered at 2, 4 and 6 months, followed by another shot between 15 and 18 months, and then a fifth shot between 4 and 6 years, Jordan said.

After that series, children should receive a booster shot around the sixth grade, Jordan said.

Adults also should get a booster shot every 10 years to protect against pertussis, she said.

Since whooping cough is a respiratory illness, the best preventative steps — beside vaccination — is to practice good preventative hygiene measures, Jordan said. This includes covering one's mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, putting tissues in waste baskets and washing one's hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, one should use alcohol-based hand disinfectant.

Reach Ron Wilkins at 765-420-5231 or at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

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