Whooping Cough Notice

Parents/Guardians,

     Please be advised that there is a confirmed case of Pertussis (whooping cough) in our class. I  sent the letter below in your child's agenda today. I am posting this as an added precaution (things tend to fall out book bags).

Mrs. Ashley Daley-Creamer

Department of Health

Health Protection Branch

P.O. Box 93

Saint John, NB 

E2L 3X1

Date:      ______________________

School/Class: __________________

*****NOTICE TO PARENTS*****

Dear Parent/Guardian,

This letter is to advise you that there has been a case of Pertussis (whooping cough) in your child’s classroom. Public Health recommends that students 1)who have a sibling who is an infant < 12 months of age and/or 2) have sustained contact with a pregnant women in her third trimester and  3)  have not had a Pertussis containing vaccine in the last 5 years, should receive a Pertussis booster as soon as possible. Please contact your normal immunization provider to arrange an appointment and take this letter with you. If you do not have a primary care provider you can contact Public Health at 658-2454 to book an appointment for this immunization.

Important notice: During the month of May, Public Health nurses will be going to all middle schools in the region to immunize eligible grade 6,7 ,8 students. 

For other students and staff, public health recommends a Pertussis containing vaccine at the first opportunity unless the vaccine was administered within the last five years.

For more information on Pertussis please see the Fact Sheets found at:

http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/ocmoh/cdc/content/whooping_cough.html

It is important to remember that, if you or your child develops symptoms like those described in the fact sheet, please see your family physician and inform him/her that you or your child may have come in contact with whooping cough.  Whooping cough is spread by coughing or contact with saliva and may cause severe disease in infants.  

If your physician suspects that you or your child has whooping cough, appropriate testing should be done to confirm the diagnosis. A positive result will allow Public Health to do further follow up to protect others who may be at risk for this disease.

If you have any questions, please contact Public Health at 658-5188.

Sincerely,

C. Scott Giffin, MD, MPH

Medical Officer of Health

South Region