WHOOPING COUGH: Parents alerted when Fort Mill student diagnosed with whooping cough

FORT MILL, S.C. — Fort Mill health officials are investigating a case of whooping cough at an elementary school.

Parents of students at Doby's Bridge Elementary School received a letter from the district on Tuesday after a student was diagnosed with whooping cough.

The school district spokesperson told Channel 9 that the school is cleaned daily, and the district is warning families of the symptoms to look for.

"This is not a disease that requires to close the school, especially for one case,” said Fort Mill School District spokesman Joe Burke. “Obviously, if there was a widespread issue in the school district, we'd have to look at something like that, but we are only dealing with one confirmed case in the district at this time."

Symptoms are initially similar to a common cold and can appear up to three weeks after being exposed.

“I was a little bit concerned, but my kids are vaccinated,” parent Judith Kiser said.

Proof of a child getting the DTaP vaccine, which protects against whooping cough, or pertussis, is required for all children in North and South Carolina public schools.

However, parents can apply for an exemption for specific reasons.

“It’s unfortunate,” parent Tracey Hartzog said. “I think people need to be more responsible and just vaccinate their children."

District officials learned about the confirmed case on Monday but said they don't know when the child got sick or how many kids may have been in close contact with the student.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccine is up to 90 percent effective.

District officials said that parents will be notified if there are more confirmed cases of whooping cough.

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