By MAUREEN PICHÉ

Potsdam and Canton school superintendents say their schools are prepared to keep a possible whooping cough outbreak at bay, thanks in large part to last year’s preparations for the H1N1 flu threat.

At least 260 confirmed cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, have been reported recently in nearby Jefferson County, mostly among elementary and preschool aged children.

This past week, one possible case was being investigated at Potsdam High School, according to the Daily Courier-Observer, and another case was reported in southern St. Lawrence County, the county Department of Public Health confirmed.

But Potsdam Central School Superintendent Patrick Brady and his Canton Central counterpart William Gregory say they are taking a proactive approach to the possibility the illness makes its way to their classrooms. Educating students, they say, is the key.

“Having gone through the H1N1 threat last year, we’re in the process of preparing for these types of outbreaks,” Brady said. “I think everyone has become much more vigilant and much more preventative, which is great.”

“We gave students a lot of instruction last year—washing hands, coughing etiquette in particular. The H1N1 experience did prepare us.” Gregory said. “Now, the staff is reinforcing it.”

The highly contagious bacterial disease is passed through sneezing and coughing, according to Sandra Worden, director of preventive services at the St. Lawrence County Department of Public Health.

She said most of the county’s population has been inoculated against it, except for the very young.

The DTaP vaccine for infants and children is given in five doses starting at 2 months and ending before they attend kindergarten. However, until children have been given the full treatment, they are at risk of contracting whooping cough, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By the age of 11 or 12, children should also receive a booster shot, the CDC says. Adults should also ask their doctor for a booster about every 10 years to maintain protection. Getting vaccinated with Tdap is especially important for family members with and caregivers of new infants.

But in addition to that, Worden said the most important actions are vigilance and keeping the spread to a minimum with good hygiene habits.

“It’s important to educate the community about the signs and symptoms,” she said. “If someone has what appears to be a cold, keep a close watch.”

People who develop upper respiratory problems should stay home, she said. Whooping cough starts out with cold-like symptoms but then develops into coughing fits that can last weeks.

It’s particularly important to keep a sick person isolated, especially away from small children and infants. Early administration of antibiotics lessens the effects of the illness, and a prophylactic dose to those who have come into contact with an infected person is also recommended, Worden said.

People should cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or cough into their arms to prevent germs from going airborne.

Gregory said he is happy to see that students remember these precautions, which were reinforced many times last year by school staff.

“As I walk around the school, I see many of them coughing into their elbows,” he said.

Both districts have invested in hand sanitizer stations, which are placed throughout the school buildings. Students are encouraged to use them frequently.

“We’ve asked students to make sure to throw out their tissues and not leave them on desks,” Brady said. “The custodial staff has been asked to wipe off desks with disinfectant more often.”

Gregory said the Canton district is in the process of reviewing all of the students’ vaccination records to ensure they’ve received the proper shots.

“We finished K through 3, and all have been vaccinated, so now we’re continuing with the other grades,” he said.

In the event a student does contract the illness, both districts have measures in place to help control the spread.

School nurses and doctors are prepared to work with county public health to assist any affected families. Children suspected of having whooping cough will be sent home for a 24- to 48-hour period of isolation to see if symptoms develop. Brady said his district insists students must be cleared by a doctor before returning to school.

What To Watch For

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Protection, Whooping Cough usually starts with cold-like symptoms and maybe a mild cough or fever. After 1 to 2 weeks, severe coughing can begin.

Unlike the common cold, pertussis can become a series of coughing fits that continues for weeks.

In infants, the cough can be minimal or not even there.

Infants may have a symptom known as "apnea." Apnea is a pause in the child’s breathing pattern.

Pertussis is most dangerous for babies. More than half of infants younger than 1 year of age who get the disease must be hospitalized.

Pertussis can cause violent and rapid coughing, over and over, until the air is gone from the lungs and you are forced to inhale with a loud "whooping" sound. This extreme coughing can cause you to throw up and be very tired.

The "whoop" is often not there and the infection is generally milder (less severe) in teens and adults, especially those who have been vaccinated.

Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:

• Runny nose

• Low-grade fever (generally minimal throughout the course of the disease)

• Mild, occasional cough

• Apnea – a pause in breathing (in infants)