CATLIN —
Catlin School District officials are taking steps after a case of whooping cough was diagnosed in one of the students.
Catlin Superintendent Gary Lewis issued an announcement Friday morning indicating a student at Catlin Grade School had been diagnosed with whooping cough, also known as Pertussis.
According to Lewis, the school was notified of the diagnosis of whooping cough on Thursday. The student — who was not identified — is recovering.
As a result of the whooping cough diagnosis, Lewis has indicated officials will be working during the holiday break to disinfect the grade school building at 216 N. Webster St., Catlin.
Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that is highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing.
Lewis indicated Friday that he was unaware if anyone was being tested for whooping cough.
Vermilion County has not seen an overabundance of whooping cough cases in recent years. In fact, numbers have dropped off, going from four cases in 2009 and six cases in 2010 to zero cases in 2011, according to county health department figures.
Doug Toole, director of environmental health for the county health department, said the county has only confirmed the one case of whooping cough this year.
According to Toole, the health department is conducting surveillance to monitor people who may have been in contact with the whooping cough case.
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health recommends that all close contacts to a person with whooping cough receive the recommended antibiotic treatment even if they have been vaccinated recently against whooping cough.
Toole said cases of whooping cough actually have gone up in the U.S., including an outbreak in the Chicago area during the fall of 2011. That outbreak prompted a new Illinois law requiring school children to be immunized for it.
According to information sent out by Lewis, whooping cough symptoms may appear 5 to 10 days following exposure but can take up to 21 days. The initial symptoms are similar to those of a common cold, including a runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild occasional cough, which can become severe and spasmodic with a distinctive whooping sound.
Toole said individuals demonstrating symptoms of whooping cough should see a doctor.
Local News
Student diagnosed with Pertussis
Catlin works to disinfect grade school building
- Local News
-
-
Fire hits Hoopeston tire business
Firefighters from at least five departments battle a blaze today at a tire business on Hoopeston's south side. Areas around the scene were evacuated due to the dense smoke the fire created. No injuries had been reported as of 7:30 a.m.
- Youth art camps available
-
District 118, union reach tentative agreement
After nearly a year without a contract, Danville District 118’s teachers, secretaries and learning resource clerks might have a new contract soon.
- Autism group sets training
- UPDATE: Hoopeston tire fire battle continues
-
Fire consumes large tire business
Black smoke blotted out the morning sky for many Hoopeston residents as a large fire consumed a local tire business along Illinois Route 9.
-
Photo Options
The closing of the photo studio inside of Sears helped Martinsville photographer Charlie Reeves finalize his decision about opening a photography studio inside the Village Mall.
-
Panel OKs Manor buyer
Vermilion County Board Nursing Home Committee members made their choice Tuesday for the next owner of Vermilion Manor Nursing Home.
-
Youths, violence top talk at meeting
There’s been too many shootings lately and some local pastors and others want to know what can be done to rid the community of the problems.
-
Program proves successful
Adam McHone recently graduated from Attica High School, but his journey to this point has not been an easy one.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone
Exclusive: Locklear & Seymour Lock Lips
Miami Heat Wins in Overtime
Fists, chairs fly in restaurant brawl
Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Fiery Hollywood Crash
Hairy Leg Stockings Aim to Deflect Male Attention
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
