Whooping Cough Public Health Letter

April 17, 2015


Dear Alemany parent,

We were notified on Wednesday, April 16th, that one, and only one, of our students has been diagnosed with Pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough. Most likely, your child does not share a classroom with this student, despite the comment of the Public Health letter included, but we are sending this to all of our parents because I wanted to use the greatest degree of caution.
Whooping Cough is a condition that usually begins as a cold and then progresses into a severe cough that becomes very serious, particularly for infants.

If your child received their normal vaccinations throughout their childhood, then they have most likely been vaccinated. Vaccination can become less effective over time, but vaccination is still the best route to go. If you notice any symptoms such as coughing, particularly over the next three weeks, be sure to take your child to the doctor and mention that Bishop Alemany did have a diagnosed case. The attached letter from the Health Department should answer any other questions you may have.

Sincerely,

David Chambers, Principal
Bishop Alemany High School