Whooping cough detected in student at Leesville Road High School, WCPSS says – WRAL.com
2025-04-23T20:29:56Z
According to the Wake County Public School System, Leesville Road High School sent a letter to parents stating the county had confirmed a case of pertussis, known as whooping cough, among one of its students.
Parents on Wednesday were notified of a whooping cough case at a Wake County school.
According to the Wake County Public School System, Leesville Road High School sent a letter to parents stating the county had confirmed a case of pertussis, known as whooping cough, among one of its students.
Whooping cough is a respiratory infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is characterized by intense coughing fits that can end with a “whooping” sound when someone exhales.
Other symptoms can include a runny nose, low fever, coughing that gets worse over time an apnea.
Earlier this year, the county detected whooping cough in a student at Oberlin Middle School. The Department of Health and Human Services said there were 106 cases of whooping cough in the first three months of 2025, which they say is a 106% increase from the same time period in 2024.
The state added that they are seeing whooping cough infections across all age groups, with the highest frequency among school-aged children and the highest rate among infants. While anyone can catch whooping cough, it can be dangerous among babies and children.
The state also said only 49% of the cases have been up to date on their vaccinations, which doctors is the best but not perfect way to prevent whooping cough infections.
Doctors also say it’s best to treat whooping cough with antibiotics as soon as possible so it won’t become more serious and prevent the spread of bacteria.
The CDC provided the following suggestions for managing the illness at home while you’re child is recovering:
Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Keep your home free from things that cause coughing like: Smoke. Dust. Chemical fumes.
Use a clean, cool mist humidifier to loosen mucus and soothe the cough.
Eat small meals every few hours to help prevent vomiting.
Get plenty of fluids, including water, juices, and fruits.
Wake County Health Services also sent a letter to families for any further questions on whooping cough. In the letter Leesville Road High School sent to parents, the school said it is taking every measure to ensure the health and safety of its students.
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