At least one student at Central Middle School has been diagnosed with whooping cough, according to an advisory issued Monday from the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
Since then, four other schools in Greater Victoria have been put on watch and parents and guardians have been notified.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not an outbreak,B次元官网网址� warns Meribeth Burton, communications director for Island Health. B次元官网网址淎n outbreak is considered three or more confirmed cases per school.B次元官网网址�
A second advisory regarding scarlet fever has also been issued; Burton said public health units often work with schools to send notices when they agree it is beneficial, but scarlet fever is not a reportable illness.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 linked to strep throat and extremely rare, but only one school has notified parents,B次元官网网址� she said.
Pertussis, or whooping cough as it is more commonly known, is an infection of the airways treatable with antibiotics. B.C. provides a free vaccine to infants and children to protect against the infection, which starts with symptons similar to a cold (sneezing, runny nose, fever, mild cough).
Island Health recommends keeping up on immunizations to prevent whooping cough.
