N.J. high school confirms whooping cough case

A high school in Sussex County has announced that a “member of our community” has been diagnosed with pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough.

The letter from High Point Point Regional High School on Thursday did not specify whether the case involves a student, teacher or staff member.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection, typically spread by sneezing or coughing. It can result in serious illness in people of all ages and can be life-threatening, especially in babies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The Department of Public Health and the High Point nurse and administration are communicating so as to ensure the health and safety of students and staff,” Scott Ripley, superintendent of the High Point Regional School District, wrote in a letter addressed to parents, employees and others.

New Jersey requires pertussis vaccination for all children entering the sixth grade who are at least 11 years ago.

“The best way to prevent pertussis is to get vaccinated,” Ripley wrote.

Ripley advised parents that, if their child comes down with a cold followed by a cough, to keep their child home from school and contact their physician.

Pertussis is known as “whooping cough” because of the whooping sound that people can make when gasping for air after a fit of coughing, as described by the CDC. It can cause rapid, violent, and uncontrolled coughing fits until all air is gone from the lungs, lasting for up to 10 weeks or longer.

“The first symptoms are like the common cold such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose, and fever,” the New Jersey Department of Health says on its website.

“However, within two weeks, the cough becomes more serious episodes of coughing spasms followed by a high pitched “whoop” sound when the person tries to take a breath. Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics and prevented with a vaccine,” the state health department says.

Some people have mild symptoms and do not realize they have whooping cough, but they can still spread the bacteria that cause it to others, including babies, CDC says.

“The administration at High Point will continue to work closely with public health officials so as to remain up-to-date, aware and active in our efforts to ensure the wellbeing of all within the High Point Regional community,” Ripley wrote.

More than 800 students attend High Point Regional High School, which enrolls students from Wantage, Branchville, Montague, Frankford, Lafayette and Sussex Borough.

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Rob Jennings may be reached at [email protected].

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