WOODBURY, MN & STILLWATER, MN (WNN) – Three cases of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) have been reported recently in students attending Stillwater Middle School.
Pertussis is a contagious bacterial illness that can cause severe coughing fits, especially in younger children and infants.
Stillwater Area School District (ISD 834) did not release information about positive cases in any of the other schools within the district.
Spokespeople for South Washington County Schools (ISD 833) and North St. Paul – Maplewood – Oakdale (ISD 622) say they have not received any reports of Pertussis within their schools as of Thursday (3/6/2025) afternoon.
What to Watch For:
- Early symptoms may resemble a common cold: runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, and possibly a low-grade fever.
- After 1-2 weeks, the cough may worsen, occurring in sudden, uncontrollable bursts.
- Coughing attacks can lead to vomiting or a high-pitched “whooping” sound, often worsening at night.
- In older children and adults, symptoms may be milder and not include the classic “whoop.”
Important Health Guidance:
- If your child has a persistent cough lasting more than seven days or has been exposed to someone with pertussis, please contact your healthcare provider.
- If diagnosed, your child must complete five full days of antibiotic treatment before returning to school or activities.
- Although pertussis can last for weeks, it is no longer contagious after three weeks of coughing.
- Pertussis is most severe in infants. Infections in babies can be minimized by immunizing mothers at the end of pregnancy and other people who will have contact with the baby.
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