FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA) – A third student at a Fayetteville junior high school has been diagnosed with whooping cough.

Alan T. Wilbourn with Fayetteville Public Schools sent out a notice stating that there is now a third student with pertussis, otherwise known as whooping cough, at Woodland Junior High School.

“Pertussis is a highly contagious disease involving the respiratory tract caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis,” Wilbourn said.

The school nurse will review immunization records to see if an additional dose of the pertussis vaccine is needed.

“All students should be observed for respiratory symptoms for the next 14 days.  Anyone with a severe cough should be excluded from school and evaluated by a physician,” Wilbourn said.