Alberta Health Services has sent a second letter home to parents of students at the Foothills Composite High School stressing vaccination for pertussis, or whooping cough.

Earlier this month, AHS sent the first letter home to parents after 3 lab confirmed cases of whooping cough, and 6 additional cases were reported linked to lab confirmed ones.

Dr. Judy MacDonald, Calgary Medical Officer of Health says the second letter was sent after even more confirmed cases have come to light.

"We've had more cases of pertussis some confirmed and some suspect cases associated with Foothills Composite High School," she says. "I won't be giving the exact number, but there have been more lab confirmed cases reported recently."

Dr. MacDonald shares the whooping cough situation at the Comp most likely started around April 1, AHS is encouraging parents to make sure their children's vaccines are up to date.

"We know that pertussis is particularly concerning in young infants, they are only maybe just starting to get their vaccines, so if they get exposed to pertussis from an adult, or an older sibling it can be very severe."

MacDonald shares whooping cough, which can be deadly in some cases, is 100% preventable.

"Pertussis is a vaccine preventable disease, it's a vaccine that's given at regular intervals as a child grows up, adults too can get a dose of pertussis vaccine, it's a simple matter to protect yourself and others."

AHS asks that students and families of students watch closely for any symptoms of pertussis, symptoms can occur up to 21 days after exposure, and include:

-Common cold symptoms that progress to severe coughing spells over 1-2 weeks.
- A persistent cough that is worse at night
- A cough that may be accompanied by a whooping sound when breathing in
- Coughing spells, which may end in vomiting or gagging

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