More schools confirm whooping cough outbreak - KWWL.com

The North Fayette School District is confirming an outbreak of whooping cough.  The district reports 15 to 20 school age children have come down with the uncontrollable coughing spells within the last week.

The district issued a letter to parents, available here, which states it is working closely with Palmer Community Health and the Iowa Department of Health in dealing with the disease.

Students with confirmed cases of whooping cough are being isolated from the school population, by staying home from classes.  Administrators say those students are also banned from all school activities until a whooping cough test comes back negative.

Clear Creek Amana Schools are also confirming an outbreak of whooping cough, but are not stating how many students are sick.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is spread through the air when someone who is sick with pertussis coughs.  It begins with a runny nose, sneezing, and cough.  The cough slowly gets worse and can become uncontrollable when children gasp for air after the cough.  The illness can last weeks to months.  In adolescents and adults, pertussis is a very long lasting cough.