Possible Case of Whooping Cough at Monforton School

The Gallatin County Health Department is investigating a possible case of Pertussis, or whooping cough, in the Monforton School District.

A letter sent to Monforton parents, Thursday, indicates that as of now a single case is being looked at by health officials.

The alert states that in the past two weeks children in the school system, which includes an elementary and middle school, may have been exposed.

According to the Mayo Clinic, whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In many people, it is marked as a severe "hacking" cough, followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like a "whoop."

Representatives of the school and the county are encouraging parents to take their children to a medical provider for testing if they begin to notice a cough, runny nose and/or mild fever developing.