A second case of whooping cough has been reported in a Santa Clarita Valley school, this time at Valencia High, according to officials.
In an email distributed to parents on Thursday, Valencia administrators said a student was diagnosed with a case of whooping cough and informed of the diagnosis by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
“We have been advised that the best thing we can do is distribute the attached notification,” said the letter, in reference to a file attachment about whooping cough from the Department of Health, “and contains information on the spread and treatment of the disease.”
District officials on Thursday said that they follow a certain set of procedures when it comes to these issues.
“What happens is the Health Ddepartment contacts the schools when the doctor has reported a diagnosis of pertussis (whooping cough),” said Hart District Spokesman Dave Caldwell. “Then they contact the school and any other place that person may have contacted.
“These things pop up every year and we follow protocol.”
On Tuesday, parents at Saugus High had been informed that a student there had been diagnosed with whooping cough, and that health officials were informing parents because children were in “close contact with this person.”
Whooping cough spreads from a cough or sneeze, and looks like a cold that continually gets worse, eventually becoming coughing attacks that last several seconds.
“As the person catches his or her breath at the end of each coughing attack, they may make a ‘whoop’ sound, vomit or choke,” Tuesday’s news release from health officials read. “It can cause serious illness, leading to hospital stays and even death, especially in infants less than 6 months old.”
Whooping cough can be treated and prevented from spreading with antibiotics, according to officials.
If children begin exhibiting the signs of whooping cough, parents are advised to take them to their doctor immediately, and not attend school until they see a medical professional.
For more information about the Valencia notice can be directed to the district’s nurse, Tina Hepp at 661-284-3260 ext. 1413 or thepp@hartdistrict.org.
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It is also important to note that whooping cough can be prevented by vaccination.