Possible whooping cough exposure at middle school

SILOAM SPRINGS — There is a possibility some students at the Siloam Springs Middle School may have been exposed to whooping cough, according to Superintendent Jody Wiggins.

A school staff member came in contact with a child who had a confirmed case of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, Wiggins said. The child was too young to attend school and was never at the school building. However, because the staff member had contact with the child, there’s a chance the staff member could have spread the disease to middle school students.

Wiggins said the staff member hasn’t had any symptoms and tested negative for the disease earlier this week. There’s still a chance he could have spread the illness before he was tested.

The district sent a letter from the Arkansas Department of Health on Wednesday or Thursday to all students who may have had contact with the staff member, Wiggins said. It includes an information sheet of symptoms parents should watch for. If parents see any symptoms, they should take their child to the doctor.

“The letter was just sent out to parents as a precaution,” he said.

Pertussis is a very contagious disease, according to the Arkansas Department of Health website, www. healthy.arkansas.gov. It’s spread by coughing and sneezing while in close contact with others. Parents, older siblings and caregivers can give whooping cough to babies without even knowing they have the disease. Vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease.