Eagle Ridge Middle School Student Diagnosed with Whooping Cough

Loudoun County health officials confirmed Thursday a student at Eagle Ridge Middle School in Ashburn has been diagnosed with whooping cough.

The county health department reportedly informed the school of the diagnosis despite not knowing when the child was diagnosed, The Washington Post reports.

The Loudoun County Health Department sent a letter to parents of the school Wednesday telling them to watch for symptoms.

“We don’t want to alarm parents, but we want them to be aware,” spokesman Wayde Bayard said in an email sent to parents Thursday morning that included the letter. “...We put the word out to parents that they stay safe. As opposed to measles or polio or tuberculosis, it’s not unusual to have a case [of whooping cough] in the schools every year.”

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious airborne disease spread through coughing that can be dangerous for infants or those with immunodeficiency. Pertussis vaccinations are required for all Loudoun County students prior to entering the sixth grade, though health officials note that vaccinations can wane over time.

Early pertussis symptoms resemble the common cold and can include runny nose, sneezing or a mild fever, followed by a cough that continues for several weeks, according to the letter sent by Loudoun Health Department director David Goodfriend. If left untreated, symptoms can advance to include uncontrollable coughing and vomiting.

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