Students at Two Schools Diagnosed With Whooping Cough

Parents in the Windham School District were informed today that confirmed cases of pertussis, or "whooping cough," have been found at Windham Center School and Golden Brook School.

According to an AlertNow message signed by the principals and nurses of the two schools, students were sent home with the letter today.

According to the message, specialized cleaning will take place at each school to "maintain a safe environment for students."

Letters for parents at both schools were attached to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services seal.

Whooping cough, according to the letter, is "highly contagious," and is usually spread by "direct contact with discharges from the nose and throat of an infected person or by breathing in droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

The letter also indicates the possibility of other cases of pertussis that may occur over the next few weeks.

The letter did not detail how many students have been confirmed with the infection at this time.

A fact sheet on pertussis was also included with the letter. Both have been attached to this article.