EDMONTON – A single case of whooping cough has been confirmed at Holy Spirit Catholic School in Sherwood Park.
Alberta Health Services informed the school and provided it with a standard letter to send home to parents.
An AHS spokesperson Kerry Williamson says whooping cough is a vaccine-preventable illness and the letter serves as a reminder of the importance of immunization.
“Your child MAY have been in contact with a case of whooping cough (pertussis) at Holy Spirit School,” reads the letter sent home to parents and guardians Wednesday. You can read the full letter below.
“Whooping cough is a contagious disease caused by a bacteria. It is spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes.”
Families were asked to take their child to the doctor if they exhibit symptoms.
In Alberta, the vaccine that protects against whooping cough – also known as pertussis – is offered for free to kids through the Routine Childhood Immunization Program, explained Williamson.
In order to protect patient confidentiality, AHS won’t release any other details about the case.
In 2014, there were 361 cases of pertussis confirmed in Alberta, 99 of which were in the Edmonton Zone. So far in 2015, there have been nine cases confirmed in the province, six of which were in the Edmonton Zone.
A whooping cough outbreak declared in early December 2014 in the Central Zone remains active.
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