ALBEMARLE, N.C. -- Leaders from the Stanly County Health Department are taking a recent outbreak of whooping cough very seriously.

So far, nine cases have been confirmed and more than 830 children and adults are being treated after coming in contact with the potentially deadly disease. Those with symptoms are being excluded from school and other activities while they take antibiotics.

The outbreak is now infecting students at four elementary schools -- Oakboro, Endy, Stanfield and Central -- and one preschool. The school district called parents this weekend to warn them about the outbreak.

Health Department Director Dennis Joyner is also trying to spread the word about the disease that he said many parents know little about.

"A lot of times people get childhood immunizations and think everything will be OK, so it's unique for younger parents particularly," he said.

He said it could be up to three weeks after a child contracts the disease before her or she begins showing symptoms, something that’s concerning for the McCoy family.

Kristen McCoy has been out of school for a week after showing whooping cough symptoms. Her mother, Kathy, didn’t take any chances and has kept her daughter quarantined while she took antibiotics. Now Kathy McCoy is worried about sending her child back to school.

“Could she return and contract it again from somebody else after being treated? It’s just concerns you have – you get confused at answers some times,” McCoy said.

The McCoys can rest easy, however. Health experts say whooping cough is highly contagious, but after five days of antibiotics patients become immune.

Health officials say whooping cough is spread through direct contact with discharges from respiratory mucous membranes. Its name comes from the unusual breathing sound young infected children make when they breathe in during coughing spells. Older children and adults usually have milder symptoms.

PDF: Extensive Information On Whooping Cough

MORE INFO: CDC Site On Whooping Cough