ENGLISHTOWN – Two cases of pertussis, otherwise known as whooping cough, were reported in the Manalapan- Englishtown Regional School District this month.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease characterized by severe coughing spells. It remains a significant health threat, in particular to infants and young children, who are at greatest risk for disease complications, according to the Internet Web site www.pertussis.com sponsored by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.
A letter was sent home by district administrators to inform parents of students who shared the classrooms with the diagnosed students, according to Superintendent of Schools John J. Marciante Jr.
Parents are advised to be alert to the following symptoms in their children: mild upper respiratory symptoms, low-grade fever and spasmodic coughing episodes accompanied by long “inspiratory” whooping sounds.
Information has been posted on the school district’s Internet Web site under Pupil Personnel Services, Nurse/Health Updates. The school district’s Web site is www.mers.k12.nj.us.
A letter from Georgianna Petillo, assistant director, Pupil Personnel Services, informed parents that district employees had disinfected the classrooms used by the infected students and disinfected the buses of the infected students.
Teachers will re-emphasize the need for students to cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze and remind the children to wash their hands frequently.
Parents are asked to reinforce those health precautions at home.
The Manalapan Health Department has been informed of the diagnosed pertussis cases and is prepared to answer questions of concern. For additional information call Georgianna Petillo at (732) 786-2750 or the Manalapan Health Department at (732) 446-8345.
Parents have been informed that if their child has not received a pertussis vaccine the youngster is considered highly susceptible to the disease. Parents are advised to contact their family doctor for more information.
Marciante said even though there are standards established for vaccinations in order to permit a student to enroll in the district, not all students are vaccinated due to religious or medical constraints.
He said there are “religious rationales” exercised by individuals who do not want their children vaccinated that are accepted exemptions by the state if properly documented.
“Once (the documentation) is done the state allows them to go to school,” he said.
Marciante said there are also certain medical reasons that preclude a child from receiving a particular vaccination, but that generally the medical exemptions are minor with religious convictions being the main reason some students are not vaccinated.