Following the recent outbreak of pertussis in Henderson County, our schools are following the guidelines and recommendations from the NC Department of Health Communicable Disease Center, in coordination with the Henderson County Department of Public Health, to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff. These recommendations include sending schoolwide notifications to parents of students in affected schools, personal phone calls from Health Department nurses to the parents of students in close contact, and a district-wide call to all parents on Monday, Nov. 27.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)Â
Pertussis is a very contagious disease usually spread to another person by coughing or sneezing or when spending a lot of time near one another where you share breathing space. Many babies who get pertussis are infected by older siblings, parents, or caregivers who might not even know they have the disease.
When pertussis circulates in the community, there is a chance that a fully vaccinated person, of any age, can catch this disease. If you have gotten the pertussis vaccine but still get sick, the infection is usually not as bad.
For more information, please see the following links and documents provided by the Henderson County Department of Public Health:
Pertussis Frequently Asked Questions
Whooping Cough and the Vaccine
