Case of whooping cough identified at Hamilton Co. school

HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - School officials in one Hamilton County school are working to be proactive, after a case of whooping cough was discovered at Riverside Intermediate in Fishers.

School leaders emailed a letter to parents Thursday afternoon, letting them know about the case.

The letter didn’t say whether or not it was a student that contracted the highly contagious disease, but it did say some students may have been exposed.

The State Department of Health is hoping parents are alert, in order to prevent an outbreak. They say symptoms of the disease usually begin 7-10 days following exposure.

At first, they say the symptoms are similar to the common cold, with coughing. Then the cough gets more severe. They say if your kids display the symptoms, keep them home, and contact a doctor.

• LISTEN | Hear the sound of a child with whooping cough

Parents with children at Riverside Intermediate say they will take the appropriate precautions.

“It’s a concern, for sure, but it’s one case. We’ll keep our eye on it, monitor it, and if it becomes more of an issue we will react to it,” said Chadd Cranfill.

“I know it’s highly contagious. If he [my son] comes down with it, I’ll have to keep him out of school for a while,” said Julie Cranfill.

It was just last year when multiple students in multiple schools in Hamilton County contracted the disease.

Although you and your child may have been vaccinated, state and school officials say they have identified cases before in fully-vaccinated children.

The vaccination against whooping cough is required by the state health department, but research has shown the vaccine’s protection can wear off over time. The disease can be contracted through coughing, sneezing, or breathing in the bacteria.

For more information, check the State Department of Health website .