Whooping Cough Outbreak At Plymouth Whitemarsh HS

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — An outbreak of whooping cough at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School has put health officials around Montgomery County on alert.

It's not clear how many students have been impacted by the outbreak of the illness, also known as pertussis, which is characterized as an irritating cough that progresses into violent coughing fits.

Plymouth Whitemarsh has seen five confirmed cases thus far, a spokesperson for Colonial School District told Patch. The county has not confirmed cases in any other districts, as of Wednesday, but it is not an isolated incident. In nearby Bucks County, Pennsbury High School saw a similar outbreak of the contagious illness last week.

"Children should be observed over the next 3 weeks for any symptoms such as a running nose, sudden, uncontrollable bursts or spells of coughing, and persistent cough that sometimes cause vomiting," Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Principal Jason R. Bacani said in a letter sent home to school families.

The Montgomery County Office of Public Health said they are working with other districts around the county on preventative measures.

While the vast majority of individuals are vaccinated for whooping cough, the vaccine does not stop infection. However, even if infected, vaccinated individuals may not get as sick from the disease, the CDC said, and the vaccine is strongly recommended.

Often the coughing spells are enough that the child cannot breathe between coughs or gags and vomits. Anyone with a moderate to severe cough should be evaluated by their physician to rule out pertussis.

Health officials advise all residents to ensure they are up to date on their pertussis vaccination.