The Orange County Health Department has identified cases of whopping cough at Glenwood Elementary School, Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools officials confirmed Wednesday evening. Multiple outlets are reporting there are seven cases of whooping cough, or Pertussis, including six students.

The school district sent multiple letters to the school community: one schoolwide message about the whooping cough cases, and one to those who are thought to have been in close contact with an individual diagnosed with Pertussis.

“A few cases” of whooping cough were also diagnosed in Chapel Hill High School and East Chapel Hill High School in January 2018.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that whooping cough “usually starts with cold-like symptoms and maybe a mild cough or fever.”

As the disease progresses, symptoms evolve to fits of rapid coughs, vomiting and exhaustion.

The CDC also says the pertussis vaccine is beneficial and important to prevention.

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