Attention Smoky Hill, yesterday February 25, 2019 parents received a email addressing whooping cough(pertussis) at Smoky. The Tri-County Health Department has been notified of many cases of Whooping cough over the past few weeks. In order to protect yourself and others here is what you should know.

Whooping cough is a sickness that is highly contagious in adults and children. With whooping cough the symptoms might not appear until 4-21 days after exposure. The cough itself begins with a small cough that becomes worse overtime. The cough can cause vomiting, difficulty breathing, and coughing fits. It is even a possibility that you can still get sick ever if you are fully vaccinated.

To avoid illness:

• Get your vaccine and any family that has a possibility of getting it.
• Wash your hands often.
• Stay at home if you are sick or have many symptoms.
• Cover your cough by using your arm instead of your hand.

If you are sick you are to stay at home for five days after you are taking antibiotics. This is to avoid spreading the illness and to keep Smoky safe.

All of the following Information is from the Tri-Country Health Department. If you have any concerns you can call Kaitlin Harame at the Communicable Disease Epidemiologist, at 720-200-1530. You can also visit the CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/index.html