The South Milwaukee Health Department is reporting six confirmed cases of whooping cough since March … and is urging parents to be vigilant about pertussis symptoms.
That number also continues to rise, along with numbers across the state, according to Public Health Administrator Jacqueline Ove.
Here is her message: If you suspect your child has whooping cough, take him or her to the doctor, and work to ensure that the doctor tests for the illness. If the test comes back positive, treat with antibiotics. Additionally, those in the ill person’s household and those who had close contact with him or her should also be treated with antibiotics.
Those with symptoms should also stay home from school or work.
Learn more about whooping cough symptoms in this note sent to South Milwaukee Middle School student families last week. One of the confirmed cases involves a middle school student.
Also, keep in mind that because we have children who attend our local schools and daycares from outside of South Milwaukee, all of the local cases may not live in the city. That requires a lot of coordination with other communities, as these large outbreaks do not know jurisdictional boundaries.
Our Health Department is up for the challenge. I’ll keep you posted.
South Milwaukee Blog 