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(Parent/Guardian Sample Letter) (Use your agencys letterhead)

October 31, 2014

Dear Parent/Guardian,

An attendee of Wissahickon High School in the sophomore class was diagnosed with laboratory-

confirmed pertussis (whooping cough). Your child may have been exposed. This informationwas confirmed by the Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD) on Friday October 31,

2014.

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused

by the bacteriumBordetella pertussis. It can be serious in children up to seven years of age and

in those who are not completely immunized against the disease.

Bacteria are spread by inhaling infected droplets of a coughing or sneezing child or by directcontact with discharges from a running nose. Household members and close contacts that have

been exposed to the infected child are at increased risk.

The Montgomery County Health Department, in consultation with the Pennsylvania Department

of Health, is making the following recommendations:

1) Parents should review each childs health record to determine the vaccination statusof the child.

2) Children should be observed over the next 2 weeks for any symptoms such as a

running nose, sudden, uncontrollable bursts or spells of coughing that persist and

sometimes cause vomiting. These symptoms should be reported immediately to yourpediatrician.

3)

If your child comes down with cold symptoms that include a cough, the child shouldbeevaluated by his/her pediatrician. Evaluation should include a nasopharyngealculturefor pertussis.

4) Children with pertussis, if their medical condition allows, may return to school and

activities five (5) daysafter starting appropriate antibioticsand must continue

taking the antibiotics until completed.

5) All household members and close contacts of a confirmed pertussis case should

receive preventative antibiotics regardless of their age or vaccination status.

Here are some helpful reminders regarding pertussis-containing vaccine for various age groups:

1)

If your child is under the age of 7 years and has not received the full recommendedvaccination series (DTaP at 2, 4 and 6 months, first booster at 1518 months andsecond booster at 46 years), please contact your pediatrician and complete the

vaccination schedule.

2) Children ages 710 who have not received the full recommended vaccination series

should receive a dose of Tdap at the earliest opportunity.

3) Persons between the ages of 11 and 64 who have not received a previous dose of

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Tdap vaccine should receive a single dose. No minimum interval since a previous

dose of Td needs to be observed.

4) Persons aged 65 and older may also receive a single dose of Tdap vaccine, as directed

by their primary care physician.

Finally, infants under one year are most likely to experience severe illness if they developpertussis. When possible, young infants should be kept away from people with a cough. Infants

with any coughing illness should be promptly evaluated by their pediatrician.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call Montgomery County

Health Department, the Division of Communicable Disease Control at (610) 278-5117.

Thank you for your cooperation.