Oak Park and River Forest High School in west suburban Oak Park has reported six circumstances of whooping cough since November.
Families had been notified of a sixth confirmed analysis of the illness, also referred to as pertussis, in a message despatched by faculty officers Tuesday.
“Because we have had multiple cases of pertussis in recent weeks, our buildings and ground staff are diligently performing extra sweeps to clean and sanitize the building,” officers stated.
Five college students and one grownup have come down with the illness, in accordance with a spokeswoman for the highschool. Families and employees had been notified concerning the first case on Nov. 20.
Whooping cough is very contagious and simply transmitted by way of coughing and sneezing, in accordance with the Oak Park Department of Public Health. The signs are initially just like a standard chilly, however coughing step by step turns into extreme.
The finest option to forestall contracting the illness is by getting vaccinated, however working towards good hygiene may also assist, the division stated.
The illness can last as long as 10 weeks or extra, inflicting violent coughing matches, the division stated. It could be lethal for infants beneath six months outdated who’re too younger to be nicely protected by vaccines.