KENOSHA -- Officials with the Kenosha Unified School District say a student who attends Indian Trail High School has been diagnosed with a confirmed case of pertussis (whooping cough).
KUSD officials have issued the following letter to parents:
According to the CDC, pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious, even deadly, for babies less than a year old.
CLICK HERE to learn more about pertussis via the CDC.