1st case of whooping cough confirmed in Austin school district

Local health officials confirmed at least one case of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in the Austin school district at an elementary school in South Austin this week.

The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department notified parents of students at Williams Elementary School and encouraged parents to consult with their pediatricians about possible exposure to the disease.

A case of whooping cough also was confirmed at Manor High School last month. The Manor school district at the time recommended that parents keep their children home from school and extracurricular activities if they have a cough.

Health officials are asking families to watch for symptoms of whooping cough, which include a runny nose, sneezing, mild fever and cough. The first symptoms typically appear within five to 21 days of exposure. After one to two weeks, a cough gets worse and starts occurring in strong fits.

In 2015, Texas health officials reported 1,360 cases of pertussis, 101 of those in Travis County. Austin school district confirmed seven cases last school year.

According to a data gathered by the American-Statesman last year, Travis County had 2,913 students with vaccine exemptions in the 2013-2014 school year. That accounted for 1.75 percent of the student population, more than double the state average of 0.75 percent.

WHOOPING COUGH Pertussis is caused by a bacteria that attach to passageways in the respiratory system It is typically spread by coughs and sneezes Infected people are most contagious up to about two weeks after the cough begins