10 a.m. May 12, 2008
Update for Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Outbreak at East Bay Waldorf School
Total whooping cough cases at East Bay Waldorf School: 17
As of Monday morning May 12, Contra Costa Public Health has confirmed one
additional whooping cough case at East Bay Waldorf School in El Sobrante,
bringing the total to 17. Contra Costa Public Health Nurses are at the
school today conducting screenings of students and staff. In order to
return to school, staff and students must be symptom-free and present
proof of antibiotics. A person must have begun taking the antibiotics (at
least one dose) before they return to the school. This proof can be a
letter from a doctor, a prescription or a prescription receipt.
If a student, faculty or staff member chooses not to take antibiotics,
they must stay home for 21 days and can return to school on Friday, May
30. We encourage people who are staying home to monitor themselves for
symptoms of whooping cough and to not attend public events.
People with symptoms of whooping cough, including runny nose, sneezing,
watery eyes, fever over 99.8 F and coughing, will be excluded from school.
People with symptoms need to complete the five-day course of antibiotics.
They may return to school 24 hours after they finish their last dose of
medication.
